Mash gives in to odd request

Bangladesh's cricket commentator Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury forced captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza to make an appeal to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for an extra day's Eid holiday after their ODI series victory over South Africa in Chittagong last night.

During the post-match presentation ceremony, Chowdhury said, "Our prime minister is an ardent cricket fan and a great follower of the game. On this happy occasion, would you like to appeal to the honorable prime minister to extend the Eid holidays by one more day?"

With a curious smile, the triumphant Bangladesh skipper first said, 'May be.' But when the commentator requested him to say it directly and publicly, the Tigers captain said: "Ok, then let me say it in Bangla… Honourable Prime Minister, please give us an extra day's Eid holiday."

In the post-match press conference, the captain was asked about the issue and he said, "He [the commentator] was asking me repeatedly, so I said that I wouldn't mind if the people were given an extra day's holiday."

However, any additional holiday will hardly make any difference for the Tigers as the first Test of the two-match series will start on July 21 at the same venue.