Mashrafe's take on Qatar-Ecuador match

Former Bangladesh cricket captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza is an avid football fan. He makes no hiding of his fondness of the Argentina national team and his admiration for two of the country's greatest footballers – Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi.

With Argentina team in top form and considered one of the favourites to lift the FIFA World Cup in Qatar and thus end a 36-year-wait for global supremacy, the retired national cricketer will keenly watch Albiceleste's matches. In fact, the man from Narail will watch most of the games of the tournament, if his busy schedule allows.

The ace cricketer has already chalked out his predictions for each of the games of the World Cup and has shared his predictions with The Daily Star.

Regarding the tournament opener between hosts Qatar and Ecuador, Mashrafe said, 

"I have never followed the Qatar team. I don't know much about them. But they are the hosts and the reigning Asian champions. So i'll keep them ahead in this opening fixture. Ecuador is a good team too. We can expect a good fight."