Bashar credits Ganguly for change of heart

Habibul Bashar, the Bangladesh captain, said his decision to continue playing one-day cricket was prompted by Sourav Ganguly. Bashar, who is in poor personal form even as his team has been improving, had earlier announced that the recently concluded series against India would be his last.

Bashar told the Kolkata daily Anandabazar Patrika that the decision was taken following a conversation over dinner with Sourav Ganguly on Tuesday night. "He gave me the idea and the enthusiasm. He asked me, 'Is it that you don't enjoy the game any more?' I said that wasn't the case so he said, 'What's the point in giving up something you enjoy for no reason?'

"We chatted for a long time, after which I realised, it's true, why don't I just continue playing? 'Dada' is always so positive that I feel charged after chatting with him."

Asked about his poor run of form, Bashar said it was a normal blip in a long career. "Yes, I had a poor World Cup but the two years or so prior to that were pretty good for me. Such blips happen to everyone. It seems the limelight is on me."

Bashar spoke of the weight of expectation among supporters that has increased following the team's good run in the World Cup. "I sense that every day. It's changed. Take the recent one-day series against India. Earlier, fans would have said, 'Bad luck, you fought well.' Now they ask me, 'Mian, why didn't you win?'"