Bangladesh Premier League: When Mashrafe bet against Amir and won

Pakistani left-armer was the centre of a joke between two franchise captains

Chittagong Vikings captain Tamim Iqbal and Comilla Victorians leader shared a joke about facing Pakistan left-arm pacer Muhammad Amir before the Bangladesh Premier League began, but it was Mashrafe who had the last laugh.

Iqbal and Mashrafe reportedly joked about how they will "utilise the services" of Amir during the match.



"When you will come to bat, I will just tell him [Amir] to hit you there," Tamim told Mashrafe pointing to his toes.

"Bring him on if you dare. I will hit him [Amir] out of the park," Mashrafe said in a mock warning.

Tamim reportedly once again pointed to Mashrafe’s toes and the two shared a laugh and joined their respective teams for practice.

But this was not the end. Their conversation turned into reality when on Tuesday in the 17th over, Victorians needed 36 runs off the last four overs and Amir was brought on to bowl for the Vikings with Mashrafe batting.



However, Tamim possibly forgot to inform Amir to bowl at Mashrafe's toes as Amir's deliveries were wide on the off side. Mashrafe survived an inside edge off Amir and managed a single off it, later stealing two more in covers.





Shafiul Islam was hit for 18 runs in the third-last over and the ball was in Victorians’ court as Amir came on for the penultimate over with Mashrafe’s side needing only 12 of 12 balls.

Amir bowled three balls to Mashrafe in that over; all bowled outside off at a full length. First one produced a single, the fourth ball leaked two past point and the last one was crafted past point and third man for a boundary.







Tamim and Mashrafe, after the brief celebrations, shook hands in all seriousness.

Mashrafe later ranked the unbeaten 56 off 32 balls as his all-time best, and said that his self-promotion to number five was a tactical move.

"This is my best ever innings with the bat," said Mashrafe.



"When I went to bat; however, I didn't think much. I just wanted to hustle their bowlers and maybe prompt a bit of change in their bowling plans. When I could be there till the end, I couldn't really believe it. You could see it in how I ran off to celebrate."

It worked, and although his prophecy to Tamim didn't pan out exactly as he said Mashrafe would count himself lucky none of those Amir yorkers dipped into his feet.

The article originally appeared on ESPN Cric Info.