Mashrafe excited about new challenges at Dhaka Premier League

Bangladesh cricket captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza is looking forward to fresh challenges as the skipper of Kalabagan Krira Chakra in Dhaka Premier League (DPL).

The 32-year-old strapping pacer has been practising with the team for the last two days, reports bdnews24.com.

"I am very excited to be playing for Kalabagan. I once played for City Club ... (and) a warm-up match for Indira Road. Barring those, I've just played for the traditional big teams - Abahani, Mohammedan and Biman. This time I'm playing for Kalabagan, so it's exciting," he said on Sunday.

"You know the things that words can't explain, it's one of those. I feel the excitement deep down. Playing for a club like this is definitely a challenge but doing well in the face of that challenge brings more satisfaction."

Mashrafe would not clear up what he meant by "doing well", but the desire to win the title was difficult to hide.

"I will not declare that we will be champions with this team but deep inside I definitely want to. I'm not talking about becoming champions...I feel we can do something good."

It may come to many as a surprise when Mashrafe was overlooked by the first 10 of the 12 teams in the players draft for Icons and A plus-grade cricketers. He was initially quite shocked by the news. But now he draws motivation from it.

"These things always inspire me. I was unsold in the first auction of the BPL but later Dhaka Gladiators roped me in. The same thing happened in the Dhaka League the last time. When no team would buy me, Mohammedan did it at the last minute. Thank God I did well everywhere."

Mashrafe also led Comilla Victorians to the Bangladesh Premier League title last year.

"Even in the BPL, there were controversies after Comilla bought me but I did not mind. I just thought I would make my case on the field. So these things actually motivate me," he signed off.