Mashrafe Mortaza

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, born on 5 October 1983, is a prominent Bangladeshi politician and former cricketer, affectionately known as the Narail Express. He made history as the captain of the Bangladesh national cricket team across all three formats, leading the team to unprecedented successes and earning a reputation as the most successful captain in the nation's cricketing history. In addition to his cricketing achievements, he served as a member of the Jatiya Sangsad, representing the Narail-2 constituency from 2019 to 2024.

His cricketing journey began with a test debut against Zimbabwe in 2001, where he quickly caught the attention of then-coach Andy Roberts. By 2006, he had established himself as a formidable force in One Day Internationals, becoming the world's highest wicket-taker with forty-nine wickets. His standout performance in the 2007 Cricket World Cup against India, where he took four wickets, was pivotal in knocking India out of the tournament.

After a series of injuries, including a significant knee ligament tear, Mashrafe returned to captain Bangladesh in the 2015 Cricket World Cup, leading the team to its first quarterfinal appearance. Under his leadership, Bangladesh achieved remarkable victories, including back-to-back ODI series wins against cricketing giants like Pakistan and India, solidifying their status as a competitive team. His captaincy also guided Bangladesh to the semifinals of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy and runners-up finishes in the Asia Cup in 2016 and 2018.

In domestic cricket, Mashrafe's leadership shone through as he captained the Dhaka Gladiators to victory in the inaugural Bangladesh Premier League in 2012 and later led Comilla Victorians and Rangpur Riders to BPL titles. His accolades include being ranked among the most famous athletes globally by ESPN in 2019 and being recognized as one of the most talented cricketers in Bangladesh by Andy Roberts. Despite facing numerous injuries throughout his career, Mashrafe's resilience and dedication have made him a beloved figure in Bangladeshi cricket.

On 6 March 2020, at the age of thirty-seven, Mashrafe announced his retirement from national team captaincy after his final ODI match against Zimbabwe, leaving behind a legacy that has inspired countless aspiring cricketers in Bangladesh.