Media was instigating Mashrafe: BCB president

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hassan today said that the media personnel went a bit too far during the pre-match press conference yesterday, when Bangladesh ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza reacted angrily to one particular question.

During the pre-match press conference on the eve of the first Bangladesh-Zimbabwe ODI in Sylhet, a reporter had asked about Mashrafe's 'sense of self-respect' during a question about him continuing to play despite declining form. A visibly irritated Mashrafe responded by saying that he was not a thief and had nothing to be ashamed of.

Mashrafe's captaincy and place in the team has generated a lot of speculation, especially after the 36-year-old led the Tigers to an eighth-place finish in the World Cup last summer.

Mashrafe remained wicketless for five matches before he broke the duck today against Zimbabwe. And hence he was repeatedly being questioned about his future in the team.

"Seeing his press conference I felt that you people personnel needled him too much. This is the time when you should have been more supportive, but instead you hurt him. We should not be discussing anything about it. He already made it clear what he wants," said Hassan during a press-conference in Sylhet today.