Mashrafe Mortaza Biography: Age, Family, Stats, Captaincy and Cricket Career

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza is one of the most influential fast bowlers and cricket captains in Bangladesh’s history. Born on 5 October 1983 in Narail, he became famous as the Narail Express, earning recognition for his pace, competitive spirit and leadership despite repeated knee injuries. He represented Bangladesh in 36 Tests, 220 ODIs and 54 T20Is, taking 390 international wickets. Mortaza’s greatest contribution extended beyond bowling: he captained Bangladesh through its rise as a competitive force in international limited-overs cricket, including the historic 2015 World Cup quarter-final and the 2017 Champions Trophy semi-final. He later entered politics and represented Narail-2 in parliament.

Mashrafe Mortaza Career Stats

FormatCareerMatchesInningsRunsHSBat Avg50s100sWicketsBBIBowl Avg
TESTReconciled source snapshot 2001–2009 36 67 797 79 12.85 3 0 78 4/60 41.52
ODICareer source 2001–2020 218 — 1,773 51* 13.85 1 0 269 6/26 32.65
T20IReconciled source snapshot 2006–2017 54 39 377 36 13.46 0 0 42 4/19 36.35
T20Recorded matches only 2009–2024 99 56 578 56 13.76 1 0 88 — 26.77
Other Int. T20Recorded matches only 2014–2014 2 1 2 2 — 0 0 0 — —

This compact table is rendered directly from the shared per-format source selection; recorded-only rows are explicitly labelled. Detailed opponent, venue, year and dismissal analysis remains on the full stats page.

Mashrafe Mortaza
Cricket Stats

Mashrafe Mortaza

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Each format uses one source consistently. Recorded-only figures are labelled separately.

View full stats

Mashrafe Mortaza Quick Facts

Mashrafe Mortaza leading Bangladesh during the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
ProfileDetails
Full nameMashrafe Bin Mortaza
Bengali nameমাশরাফী বিন মোর্তজা
Date of birth5 October 1983
Age43 (as of November 2026)
BirthplaceNarail, Bangladesh
NationalityBangladeshi
NicknamesMash, Koushik, Narail Express
ProfessionFormer cricketer, politician
Playing roleFast bowler
Batting styleRight-handed
Bowling styleRight-arm fast-medium
HeightReported as 1.83 m (6 ft)
Test debut8 November 2001 vs Zimbabwe
ODI debut23 November 2001 vs Zimbabwe
T20I debut28 November 2006 vs Zimbabwe
Last Test9 July 2009
Last ODI6 March 2020
Last T20I6 April 2017
Test matches36
ODI matches220
T20I matches54
International wickets390
Highest Test score79
Highest ODI score51
Major captaincy achievementBangladesh’s first World Cup quarter-final in 2015
IPL teamKolkata Knight Riders
Political constituencyNarail-2
UniversityJahangirnagar University
WifeSumona Haque Sumi

Profile and career figures: CricketArchive, Cricbuzz and cricket records. Personal and educational details should be read alongside the verification notes in Part 4.

Mashrafe Mortaza’s Early Life, Childhood and Family Background

Growing up in Narail

Mashrafe Mortaza was born on 5 October 1983 in Narail, a district in southwestern Bangladesh. His childhood was closely connected with the Chitra River and the outdoor sporting culture of his hometown.

Unlike many young cricketers who follow a highly structured academy pathway from an early age, Mashrafe initially spent much of his time swimming, playing football and enjoying outdoor activities. Cricket was not his only sporting interest.

A detailed feature published by The Cricket Monthly describes his childhood adventures around the Chitra River, including swimming and jumping into the water with friends. These experiences help explain why his early sporting development was not limited to formal cricket training.

His hometown later became closely associated with his identity as the Narail Express.

His father and family influence

His father, Golam Mostafa, spoke about his son’s childhood in a 2014 Daily Star feature, Champions of Narail.

According to the report:

  • His father initially wanted him to become a doctor.
  • As a child, Mashrafe was energetic and adventurous.
  • He enjoyed swimming and outdoor activities.
  • His father described his cricketing ability as naturally gifted.
  • Formal coaching was not a major part of his earliest childhood development.

This account offers an interesting picture of a young sportsman whose eventual international career was not necessarily the family’s original plan.

Mashrafe Mortaza’s family

The publicly reported family information includes:

Family memberInformation
FatherGolam Mostafa
WifeSumona Haque Sumi
ChildrenTwo
BrotherMentioned in childhood swimming accounts

His personal life has generally received less detailed public coverage than his cricket and political career. Further claims about family occupations and the identities of other relatives should not be published without stronger independent confirmation.

Mashrafe Mortaza’s Education and Cricket Development

Mortaza studied at Jahangirnagar University, where he pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, according to biographical records.

His cricket development came through the local and national age-group structure in Bangladesh. An important turning point was his selection opportunity for an Under-17 cricket tournament.

His early sporting background was unusual because swimming and football occupied a significant part of his childhood before cricket became his principal pursuit.

Important development details:

  • Hometown: Narail.
  • Early sporting interests: Swimming and football.
  • Cricket pathway: Local cricket and age-group trials.
  • University: Jahangirnagar University.
  • Senior breakthrough: Bangladesh’s national side in 2001.

The exact school-by-school chronology and a complete list of his early coaches are not sufficiently established here to present as confirmed facts.

Mashrafe Mortaza’s International Cricket Career

Mortaza made his international debut in 2001, becoming one of Bangladesh’s most important fast-bowling options during the country’s development as a Test-playing nation.

He played all three major international formats, but injuries repeatedly interrupted his progress. His career therefore involved several periods of recovery, selection uncertainty and successful returns.

Test career: Debut, performances and retirement

36 Tests

Mashrafe made his Test debut against Zimbabwe on 8 November 2001 at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.

His first Test appearance immediately attracted attention. He took four wickets in the match, giving Bangladesh an encouraging indication of the fast-bowling potential emerging from the country.

His Test career included:

StatisticRecord
Matches36
Runs797
Batting average12.85
Highest score79
Wickets78
Bowling average41.53
Best innings figures4/60
Best match figures5/88

His highest Test score of 79 demonstrated that he could contribute useful lower-order runs in addition to his bowling.

His final Test was against West Indies on 9 July 2009. Persistent knee problems made it increasingly difficult for him to sustain the physical demands of Test cricket.

For his complete red-ball record, readers can access the dedicated Test statistics section:

Explore Mashrafe Mortaza's complete Test stats

ODI career: Bangladesh’s leading fast-bowling figure

220 ODIs

The ODI format became the most important part of Mashrafe Mortaza’s international career.

He made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe on 23 November 2001. Over the following years, he developed into a key member of Bangladesh’s bowling attack and eventually became its most recognisable limited-overs leader.

His ODI career was defined by three major qualities:

  1. New-ball bowling and early breakthroughs.
  2. Experience and control during difficult periods.
  3. Leadership that helped Bangladesh compete more consistently against stronger opponents.

Mashrafe Mortaza’s ODI statistics

StatisticRecord
Matches220
Runs1,787
Batting average13.75
Highest score51
Half-centuries1
Wickets270
Bowling average32.95
Economy rate4.88
Bowling strike rate40.47
Best bowling6/26
Five-wicket hauls1

His 270 ODI wickets made him one of Bangladesh’s most successful fast bowlers in the format.

His final ODI came against Zimbabwe on 6 March 2020 in Sylhet. He announced that he would step down as Bangladesh’s ODI captain after that match, although he did not formally retire from every form of cricket at that point.

Explore his full ODI record:

See Mashrafe Mortaza's complete ODI stats

T20 International career

54 T20Is

Mortaza made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe on 28 November 2006.

Although he was primarily recognised for his ODI performances, his experience and tactical awareness also made him useful in the shortest international format.

StatisticRecord
Matches54
Runs377
Highest score36
Batting average13.46
Strike rate135.62
Wickets42
Bowling average36.38
Economy rate8.05
Best bowling4/19

His final T20I appearance was against Sri Lanka on 6 April 2017.

View Mashrafe Mortaza's full T20I record

Mashrafe Mortaza’s World Cup Career

Mashrafe participated in three senior ICC Cricket World Cups: 2003, 2007, 2015 and 2019? His World Cup appearances actually span four tournaments, including 2003, 2007, 2015 and 2019. The 2011 tournament was the major one he missed because of injury.

2003 Cricket World Cup

Mortaza was part of Bangladesh’s 2003 World Cup squad. The tournament provided early experience against international opposition, although Bangladesh did not progress beyond the group stage.

2007 Cricket World Cup: The famous victory over India

The 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean was a defining tournament for Mortaza.

On 17 March 2007, Bangladesh defeated India by five wickets at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain. Mortaza played a major role in restricting India’s batting line-up.

Bangladesh Cricketer Mashrafee Murtaza b…

Match snapshot

DetailRecord
Date17 March 2007
CompetitionICC Cricket World Cup
VenueQueen’s Park Oval, Trinidad
India191 all out
Bangladesh192/5
Mortaza’s bowling4/38 in 9.3 overs
ResultBangladesh won by 5 wickets
AwardPlayer of the Match

Match scorecard: CricketEurope archive and contemporary cricket records. cricketeuropearchive.com+1

Mortaza dismissed Virender Sehwag, Robin Uthappa, Ajit Agarkar and Munaf Patel. His contribution helped Bangladesh achieve one of the most memorable victories in its World Cup history.

Bangladesh subsequently reached the Super Eight stage.

2011 World Cup: The painful omission

Mortaza missed the 2011 World Cup, which was particularly disappointing because Bangladesh was one of the host nations.

He had injured his right knee while playing domestic cricket in December 2010. The medical assessment raised concerns about damage to the reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament.

In January 2011, selectors left him out of the 15-member squad because they were not confident he would regain sufficient match fitness before the competition. ICC+1

The decision became one of the most painful selection episodes of his career. Mortaza later publicly discussed his disappointment about missing the tournament.

2015 World Cup: Leading Bangladesh to the quarter-finals

CRICKET-WC-2015-ENG-BAN

The 2015 World Cup marked a major achievement in Mortaza’s captaincy.

Bangladesh defeated England by 15 runs in Adelaide on 9 March 2015, qualifying for the quarter-finals for the first time in its history.

Mahmudullah scored 103, Mushfiqur Rahim made 89 and the fast bowlers completed an important part of the victory. Mortaza continued bowling despite a calf injury. ICC

Bangladesh eventually lost its quarter-final against India, but the campaign established the team as a more competitive World Cup side.

2019 World Cup: His final ODI World Cup

Mortaza captained Bangladesh in the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales.

The team finished with three victories, two defeats and four no-results? More precisely, Bangladesh recorded three wins, four defeats and two no-results, finishing eighth in the ten-team tournament.

The campaign was particularly memorable for Shakib Al Hasan’s outstanding performance with the bat and ball. He scored 606 runs and took 11 wickets. ICC+1

Mortaza’s own bowling statistics were disappointing: he took only one wicket in the tournament. However, he remained an important senior figure and captain.

Mashrafe Mortaza’s Captaincy Record and Leadership

Captaincy is one of the most important parts of Mortaza’s cricket biography.

He became Bangladesh’s ODI captain in 2010, although injuries disrupted his initial opportunities to lead the national team. His sustained leadership period began in 2014–15, when Bangladesh started producing more consistent results against established international sides.

Bangladesh ODI captaincy statistics

The ICC reported that Mortaza led Bangladesh in 87 ODIs and won 49 of them when announcing his departure from the captaincy in 2020. Subsequent records list 88 matches and 50 wins, reflecting the final Zimbabwe match and updated historical accounting. ICC+1

Leadership measureRecord
ODI captaincy matches88
ODI wins50
ODI losses36
Win percentage58.13%
Captaincy period2010–2020

His captaincy was particularly significant because Bangladesh had historically struggled to maintain consistent performances against major cricketing nations.

The 2015 victories against Pakistan and India

After the World Cup, Bangladesh defeated Pakistan 3–0 in an ODI series and India 2–1.

These victories were important because they showed that Bangladesh could challenge established teams in bilateral cricket rather than relying exclusively on home-ground upsets.

Mortaza also led Bangladesh to a successful ODI series against South Africa in 2015.

2017 Champions Trophy: Bangladesh reach the semi-finals

CRICKET-CT-2017-ENG-BAN

Bangladesh reached the semi-finals of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy in England under Mortaza’s leadership.

The team advanced from a competitive group containing England, Australia and New Zealand. Its famous victory over New Zealand at Cardiff was especially important.

Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah produced a remarkable partnership to secure the victory and take Bangladesh into the knockout stage.

Bangladesh eventually lost the semi-final to India, but reaching the last four was a historic achievement for the country.

Why his captaincy mattered

Mortaza’s leadership was not based solely on tactical decisions. He also had a reputation for maintaining strong relationships with teammates and giving younger players confidence.

His experience with injuries helped him understand the physical and psychological challenges facing fast bowlers.

He provided leadership during the emergence of players such as:

  • Shakib Al Hasan
  • Tamim Iqbal
  • Mushfiqur Rahim
  • Mahmudullah
  • Mustafizur Rahman
  • Taskin Ahmed

His captaincy helped establish a more confident Bangladesh ODI team.

Mashrafe Mortaza’s Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Career

Rangpur win maiden BPL title | The Daily Star

thedailystar.net

Mortaza became one of the most successful captains in Bangladesh Premier League history.

His experience, bowling knowledge and ability to manage players made him a sought-after leader in domestic T20 cricket.

Four BPL championship victories

The Bangladesh Premier League’s official and contemporary reporting records four BPL titles under Mortaza’s captaincy.

YearFranchiseAchievement
2012Dhaka GladiatorsBPL champions
2013Dhaka GladiatorsBPL champions
2015Comilla VictoriansBPL champions
2017Rangpur RidersBPL champions

He led three different franchises to titles, including consecutive championships with Dhaka Gladiators. News+1

Dhaka Gladiators: The first two championships

Mortaza captained Dhaka Gladiators to the first two BPL championships in 2012 and 2013.

The 2012 season was especially important because it was the inaugural edition of the competition.

He took ten wickets in eleven matches during the inaugural tournament, according to the Cricbuzz career profile. Cricbuzz.com+1

Comilla Victorians: The 2015 title

Mortaza subsequently joined Comilla Victorians and captained them to the 2015 BPL championship.

The franchise later confirmed his departure ahead of the 2017 season, acknowledging his contribution to its first title.

Rangpur Riders: The 2017 championship

In 2017, Mortaza captained Rangpur Riders to their first BPL championship.

Rangpur defeated Dhaka Dynamites by 57 runs in the final at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on 12 December 2017.

It was Mortaza’s fourth BPL title in five editions of the competition. daily-sun.com+1

Later BPL teams

His later franchise associations included:

  • Dhaka Platoon
  • Gemcon Khulna
  • Minister Group Dhaka
  • Sylhet Strikers

He continued to play a leadership role even when his physical fitness and political responsibilities affected his availability.

In 2023, he captained Sylhet Strikers to their first BPL final. They finished as runners-up after losing to Comilla Victorians. In 2024, he again captained Sylhet. today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Mashrafe Mortaza’s IPL Career: Kolkata Knight Riders

5 Players who played one IPL game and faded away

crictracker.com

Mortaza played one Indian Premier League season, representing Kolkata Knight Riders in 2009.

IPL 2009 auction and contract

Kolkata Knight Riders bought Mortaza for US$600,000 at the 2009 IPL auction.

Auction detailInformation
IPL season2009
FranchiseKolkata Knight Riders
Base priceUS$50,000
Auction priceUS$600,000
Matches1

IPL 2009

His IPL debut against Chennai Super Kings

Mortaza made his IPL debut against Chennai Super Kings on 25 April 2009 at Newlands in Cape Town.

His only IPL appearance was against Deccan Chargers on 16 May 2009 at Johannesburg.

The match became particularly memorable for a difficult final over. Deccan Chargers needed 21 runs from the last six deliveries, and Rohit Sharma struck Mortaza for 26 runs in that over to help his team win.

IPL career statistics

StatisticRecord
Matches1
Runs2
Highest score2*
Overs bowled4
Runs conceded58
Wickets0
Economy14.50
Best bowling0/58

Despite the disappointing outing, Mortaza’s IPL auction price demonstrated the interest surrounding his reputation as Bangladesh’s leading fast bowler at that time.

Mashrafe Mortaza’s Domestic Cricket Career

International cricket was only one part of his playing career. Mortaza also represented several domestic teams and continued competing after his international appearances ended.

Domestic teams

His recorded domestic and franchise associations include:

TeamCompetition / association
Khulna DivisionFirst-Class and List A
Abahani LimitedDhaka domestic cricket
Mohammedan Sporting ClubDomestic cricket
Dhaka GladiatorsBPL
Comilla VictoriansBPL
Rangpur RidersBPL
Dhaka PlatoonBPL
Gemcon KhulnaDomestic T20
Minister Group DhakaBPL
Sylhet StrikersBPL
Legends of RupganjDhaka Premier Division League

Cricket Archive+1

Four wickets in four consecutive deliveries

One of Mortaza’s most remarkable domestic achievements came on 7 March 2018.

Playing for Abahani Limited against Agrani Bank in the Dhaka Premier League, he took four wickets in four consecutive deliveries.

Dhaka Premier League: Mashrafe Mortaza Takes Four Wickets Off Consecutive Deliveries | Cricket News

sports.ndtv.com

The match situation was dramatic:

  • Agrani Bank needed 13 runs from the final over.
  • Four wickets remained.
  • Mortaza dismissed four consecutive batters.
  • Abahani won by 11 runs.

He became the first Bangladeshi bowler to achieve four wickets in four consecutive deliveries in List A cricket. Cricket News – The Indian Express+1

His five-wicket haul in the 2024 Dhaka Premier League

Even after his international career ended, Mortaza continued appearing in domestic cricket.

On 21 March 2024, he took 5/19 for Legends of Rupganj against Gazi Group Cricketers.

It was his first match of that season, and his bowling helped Legends of Rupganj secure a six-wicket victory. Sports

His subsequent domestic appearances demonstrate that his international departure did not immediately mean the end of his playing career.

For the complete longer-format domestic records:

View Mashrafe Mortaza's complete first-class stats

Explore Mashrafe Mortaza's complete List A record

For domestic and franchise T20 records:

View Mashrafe Mortaza's domestic and franchise T20 stats

Mashrafe Mortaza’s Injuries, Surgeries and Comebacks

Injuries were among the biggest obstacles throughout Mortaza’s cricket career.

He repeatedly suffered knee and back problems, which affected his selection, international appearances and ability to play Test cricket.

Early knee and back problems

His injury problems began relatively early in his international career.

In 2003, he suffered a serious knee injury during a Test against England. Medical assessments indicated that he required ligament reconstruction and could miss approximately eight months.

The injury followed an earlier period of back trouble that had already restricted his playing opportunities. ABC News

The 2009 West Indies injury

During the first Test against West Indies at St Vincent in July 2009, Mortaza injured his right knee.

He subsequently underwent arthroscopic surgery on both knees in August 2009 under Melbourne-based orthopaedic surgeon Dr David Young. ICC+1

The 2010–11 injury and World Cup omission

In December 2010, he injured his right knee while batting for Abahani in the Dhaka Premier Division League.

The injury raised concerns about damage to his reconstructed ACL. He underwent another operation in May 2011 in Melbourne.

This was particularly painful because Bangladesh was hosting the 2011 World Cup, and Mortaza wanted to participate in the tournament. bdnews24.com+1

Returning to international cricket

Despite repeated setbacks, Mortaza continued making comebacks.

His later career demonstrated a change in bowling approach. Rather than depending entirely on express pace, he increasingly relied on accuracy, seam movement, experience and restrictive bowling.

This adjustment helped him remain useful in international ODI cricket well into his thirties.

Mashrafe Mortaza’s Playing Style and Bowling Strengths

Mashrafe Mortaza was a right-arm fast-medium bowler who became famous for generating pace and bounce.

During his early international years, his bowling was characterised by:

  • A strong and energetic bowling action.
  • Ability to extract bounce from the pitch.
  • Seam movement.
  • Aggressive new-ball spells.
  • Ability to attack top-order batters.
  • Useful lower-order batting.

As injuries accumulated, he gradually adjusted his approach.

He became more dependent on line and length, bowling discipline and experience rather than trying to maintain the same pace throughout his career.

Batting contributions

Although Mortaza was primarily a bowler, he could contribute valuable lower-order runs.

His highest Test score was 79, while his highest ODI score was 51.

He was not a specialist batter, but his ability to score quickly made him useful in limited-overs cricket.

Mashrafe Mortaza’s Awards, Recognition and Records

Mortaza’s career produced several important individual and team achievements.

AchievementDetail
International wickets390
ODI wickets270
Bangladesh ODI captaincy wins50
BPL titles as captain4
2007 World CupPlayer of the Match vs India
2018 domestic cricketFour wickets in four List A deliveries
Wisden recognitionWisden India Cricketer of the Year, 2016

Cricbuzz+3

Highest ODI wicket-taking year

In 2006, Mortaza took 49 ODI wickets, making him the leading ODI wicket-taker worldwide that calendar year according to the Cricbuzz career profile.

This achievement was particularly important because Bangladesh was still developing its fast-bowling resources. Cricbuzz

His international legacy

His importance to Bangladesh cricket cannot be measured exclusively through individual bowling totals.

He played a major role in:

  • The 2007 World Cup victory over India.
  • Bangladesh’s first World Cup quarter-final in 2015.
  • The successful ODI series against Pakistan and India in 2015.
  • Bangladesh’s 2017 Champions Trophy semi-final.
  • Developing confidence among younger Bangladesh fast bowlers.

Mashrafe Mortaza’s Political Career and Narail Express Foundation

Mashrafe-JMI initiative brings first-ever Kidney dialysis center in Narail | The Asian Age Online, Bangladesh

dailyasianage.com

After establishing himself as a national sporting figure, Mortaza became increasingly involved in social work and politics.

Narail Express Foundation

On 4 September 2017, he launched the Narail Express Foundation.

The organisation was established to support development and welfare activities in his hometown.

Its reported areas of activity included:

  • Financial assistance to disadvantaged people.
  • Healthcare support.
  • Agricultural assistance and seeds.
  • Solar panels.
  • Information and communication technology activities.
  • Sports and cultural development.

The foundation reflected Mortaza’s stated interest in contributing to the people of Narail beyond his cricket career. bdnews24.com+1

Entering politics in 2018

In November 2018, Mortaza received the Bangladesh Awami League nomination for the Narail-2 constituency.

His decision attracted considerable attention because he was still serving as Bangladesh’s ODI captain.

He explained that public service had been a personal interest and that he wanted to work on a larger scale for his hometown.

Parliamentary career

Mortaza won the Narail-2 seat in the 2018 general election and entered parliament in January 2019.

He was re-elected in January 2024.

In January 2024, he was also appointed as a whip of the 12th Parliament. bdnews24.com+2

His parliamentary tenure ended following the dissolution of parliament on 6 August 2024, amid the political upheaval in Bangladesh.

Legal cases reported in 2024

Mortaza’s political career later became the subject of serious legal allegations.

In September 2024, Bangladeshi media reported that a case had been filed against him, his father and other individuals over an alleged attack on students during the anti-discrimination protests in Narail on 4 August 2024.

On 10 December 2024, further reporting described another case involving Mortaza and 594 other accused individuals over an alleged attack on student protesters. The complainants’ statements contained allegations of violence and vandalism. Police said investigations were underway. The Daily Star+2

These are reported allegations and case filings, not proof of criminal guilt. No conviction or final judicial determination is established by the sources cited here.

Mashrafe Mortaza’s Current Status in 2026

Information checked: 3 November 2026

Mashrafe Mortaza is a former Bangladesh international cricketer and former parliamentarian.

His final international appearances were:

  • Test: 9 July 2009.
  • T20I: 6 April 2017.
  • ODI: 6 March 2020.

He continued to play domestic cricket after leaving the national team, with a documented Dhaka Premier Division appearance in April 2024.

His current public position is less clear. A February 2026 report in Prothom Alo noted that he had not been seen publicly for approximately a year and a half. Prothom Alo+1

There is insufficient verified information to describe him as currently holding a cricket coaching, administrative or parliamentary position.

Mashrafe Mortaza Career Timeline

YearCareer milestone
1983Born in Narail, Bangladesh
2001Made Test and ODI debuts against Zimbabwe
2003Serious knee injury and rehabilitation
2006Took 49 ODI wickets during the calendar year
2007Took 4/38 against India in the World Cup
2009Underwent knee surgery
2010Became Bangladesh’s ODI captain
2011Missed the World Cup through injury
2012Captained Dhaka Gladiators to inaugural BPL title
2013Won second BPL title with Dhaka Gladiators
2015Led Bangladesh to its first World Cup quarter-final
2015Won BPL with Comilla Victorians
2016Named Wisden India Cricketer of the Year
2017Led Bangladesh to Champions Trophy semi-final
2017Won fourth BPL title with Rangpur Riders
2018Took four wickets in four consecutive List A deliveries
2019Captained Bangladesh in the Cricket World Cup
2019Re-elected as MP? No: first elected in 2018
2020Played his final ODI and left the captaincy
2023Led Sylhet Strikers to BPL final
2024Continued domestic cricket and was re-elected to parliament
2024Parliamentary tenure ended during political upheaval

Compare Mashrafe Mortaza With Other Bangladesh Cricketers

Mashrafe’s career can be better understood by comparing his bowling achievements, leadership and international contribution with other major Bangladesh players.

Mashrafe Mortaza
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Frequently Asked Questions About Mashrafe Mortaza

1. What is Mashrafe Mortaza’s age?

Mashrafe Mortaza was born on 5 October 1983. He is 43 years old as of 3 November 2026.

2. What is Mashrafe Mortaza’s nickname?

His most famous nickname is Narail Express, referring to his hometown of Narail and his fast bowling.

He is also known as Mash and Koushik.

3. Who is Mashrafe Mortaza’s wife?

His wife is Sumona Haque Sumi. They married on 7 September 2006.

4. How many children does Mashrafe Mortaza have?

Public biographical reporting identifies two children: a daughter, Humaira Mortaza, and a son, Sahil.

5. How many international wickets did Mashrafe Mortaza take?

He took 390 international wickets:

  • Tests: 78.
  • ODIs: 270.
  • T20Is: 42.

6. How many ODIs did Mashrafe Mortaza play?

He played 220 One Day Internationals for Bangladesh between 2001 and 2020.

7. How many BPL titles did Mashrafe Mortaza win as captain?

He won four BPL championships as captain:

  • Dhaka Gladiators: 2012 and 2013.
  • Comilla Victorians: 2015.
  • Rangpur Riders: 2017.

8. Did Mashrafe Mortaza play in the IPL?

Yes. He represented Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2009 IPL season. He played one match after being purchased for US$600,000.

9. Why did Mashrafe Mortaza miss the 2011 World Cup?

He was excluded because of a knee injury suffered during domestic cricket in December 2010. Selectors believed he would not regain the necessary match fitness before the tournament.

10. What was Mashrafe Mortaza’s best ODI bowling performance?

His best ODI bowling figures were 6/26.

11. What was Mashrafe Mortaza’s highest Test score?

His highest Test score was 79.

12. Is Mashrafe Mortaza retired from international cricket?

He has not played international cricket since March 2020. He stepped down as Bangladesh’s ODI captain after his final ODI, but continued playing domestic cricket afterward.

13. What is Mashrafe Mortaza’s net worth?

There is no dependable, independently verified public financial statement establishing his total net worth. Online estimates should not be treated as confirmed wealth.

14. What is Mashrafe Mortaza’s height?

His commonly reported height is 1.83 metres, approximately six feet. This figure is widely repeated in biographical profiles but is not established here through a current official measurement.

15. What is Mashrafe Mortaza doing now?

He is a former international cricketer and former parliamentarian. His last documented domestic cricket appearances were in 2024. His precise current professional activities have not been reliably established.

16. Has Mashrafe Mortaza faced legal cases?

Yes. Bangladeshi media reported cases filed against him in September and December 2024 concerning alleged attacks on student protesters. These remain allegations in the cited reporting, and a filing must not be confused with a conviction.

CONCLUSION

Conclusion

Mashrafe Mortaza remains one of the most influential figures in Bangladesh cricket history. Known for his pace, leadership, fighting spirit, and ability to inspire teammates, he played a major role in transforming Bangladesh into a more competitive international cricket team. Despite facing numerous injuries throughout his career, he repeatedly returned to the field and continued serving his country with determination.

His greatest legacy extends beyond his bowling achievements and individual performances. As Bangladesh’s captain, Mashrafe helped build team confidence, encouraged a winning mentality, and guided the national side through several memorable victories, particularly in limited-overs cricket. His leadership during Bangladesh’s rise in international cricket earned him widespread respect among teammates, supporters, and cricket observers.

Although his international playing career has ended, Mashrafe Mortaza’s contribution to Bangladesh cricket remains significant. His journey from a talented young fast bowler to an inspirational captain represents perseverance, commitment, and national pride. He will always be remembered as one of Bangladesh’s greatest cricket captains and a defining personality in the country’s cricketing history.

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