Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza took his captaincy to another level by joining the elite skippers of the cricket world when he emulated India’s Rahul Dravid in leading the side to win in 42 ODIs, reports BSS.
His 42nd win as captain came following Bangladesh’s five-wicket win over West Indies at the Malahide in Dublin on Monday, a win that sealed their spot in the tri-series final.
Mashrafe took 75 matches to seal his 42nd victory while Dravid led India a total of 79 matches. Bangladesh lost 31 matches under Mashrafe’s captaincy, meaning his average is 57.53, better than Dravid’s 56. India lost 33 matches in Dravid’s captaincy.
In doing so, Mashrafe also surpassed New Zealand’s captain Daniel Vettroi who led the side win in 41 matches from 82 games and his winning average is 55.33.
Australia’s Ricky Ponting however remained in such level that it is unlikely in near future that someone could overtake him.
Ponting, who led Australia winning the World Cup consecutive twice in 2003 and 2007, remains the most successful captain in cricket’s history. From 2002-20012, he led Australia in 230 matches in which Australia won 165 matches. They lost only 51 under Ponting’s captaincy, leaving his winning average to an astonishing 76.14.
India’s captain cool Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the hero of Australia’s resurgence in late 80’s Allan Border, New Zealand’s Stephen Fleming and Sri Lanka’s Arjuna Ranatunga came behind Ponting.
From 2007-2018, Dhoni led India in 200 matches and won 110 in contrast of losing 74. His winning average is 59.52. Under Fleming captaincy, New Zealand played 218 matches, won 98 and lost 106, meaning his average is 48.08.
Ranatunga, who led Sri Lanka win the World Cup in 1996, captained the side in 193 matches, amongst which he led the side win in 89 matches. Sri Lanka lost 95 matches under his captaincy and therefore his average is 48.37.
Border is only captain after Ponting and Dhoni to lead the side win more than 100 ODIs. Under his captaincy Australia won 107 matches in 174 games and his winning average is 61.42.
As far as winning average is concerned, South Africa’ former captain Hansie Cronje came second to Ponting with 73.70 as he led the side win 99 matches in only 138 games.
In terms of winning matches, the likes of Azharuddin who led India in 90 matches, Wasim Akram, Mahela Jayawardene, Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd, Imran Khan and others are still ahead of Mashrafe.
They might be ahead but a Bangladesh captain bracketed himself alongside the legendary captain spoke a volume of the country’s prowess as cricketing nation.