<p class="title">Bangladesh cricket superstar Mashrafe Mortaza has defended his decision to enter politics as the "need of the hour" after angering some fans by contesting upcoming elections.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mashrafe, who enjoys rockstar status in cricket-mad Bangladesh, divided opinion when he announced he would run in the December 30 polls on an Awami League ticket.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A photograph of the 35-year-old alongside party leader and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina dominated headlines for days.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But it split fans in the South Asian nation of 165 million, which this year witnessed major rallies against the Awami League, which has jailed opponents and stifled dissent.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I believe that every conscious, worthy and honest Bangladeshi should enter politics," Mashrafe said on late Sunday in his first public remarks since announcing his candidacy.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Maybe many can't find the courage for different reasons and mental limitations. I thought that it was important to break this mental barrier. So, I myself took the initiative to fulfil my desire," he said in a Facebook post.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Earlier, the Awami League confirmed the one-day international captain would contest a parliamentary seat from his hometown Narail in southwest Bangladesh.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A cricketer moving into politics is nothing new in South Asia, where star players command god-like devotion from millions of fans.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It is however rare for a current player to make the change.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mashrafe is expected to skipper Bangladesh in a three-match ODI series against the West Indies on home soil starting December 9.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The fast bowler said his political ambitions called at a time when he is contemplating his future, with speculation he could retire from international cricket after next year's World Cup.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I don't know what is waiting for me in the next four and half years after the World Cup. So I made an assessment of the time. I listened to the need of the hour. Because I believe, work should be done in due time," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mashrafe, who has undergone more than half a dozen knee surgeries, has already retired from Twenty20 international cricket and has not played a Test match since 2009.</p>
<p class="title">Bangladesh cricket superstar Mashrafe Mortaza has defended his decision to enter politics as the "need of the hour" after angering some fans by contesting upcoming elections.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mashrafe, who enjoys rockstar status in cricket-mad Bangladesh, divided opinion when he announced he would run in the December 30 polls on an Awami League ticket.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A photograph of the 35-year-old alongside party leader and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina dominated headlines for days.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But it split fans in the South Asian nation of 165 million, which this year witnessed major rallies against the Awami League, which has jailed opponents and stifled dissent.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I believe that every conscious, worthy and honest Bangladeshi should enter politics," Mashrafe said on late Sunday in his first public remarks since announcing his candidacy.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Maybe many can't find the courage for different reasons and mental limitations. I thought that it was important to break this mental barrier. So, I myself took the initiative to fulfil my desire," he said in a Facebook post.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Earlier, the Awami League confirmed the one-day international captain would contest a parliamentary seat from his hometown Narail in southwest Bangladesh.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A cricketer moving into politics is nothing new in South Asia, where star players command god-like devotion from millions of fans.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It is however rare for a current player to make the change.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mashrafe is expected to skipper Bangladesh in a three-match ODI series against the West Indies on home soil starting December 9.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The fast bowler said his political ambitions called at a time when he is contemplating his future, with speculation he could retire from international cricket after next year's World Cup.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I don't know what is waiting for me in the next four and half years after the World Cup. So I made an assessment of the time. I listened to the need of the hour. Because I believe, work should be done in due time," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mashrafe, who has undergone more than half a dozen knee surgeries, has already retired from Twenty20 international cricket and has not played a Test match since 2009.</p>