Stung by criticism back home about his lack of form, Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar had virtually decided to quit one-day cricket when he took the long flight back from the West Indies barely a month ago.

Till the 34-year-old came to know what “big players like Dhoni and Dravid had been through” after their World Cup disaster. And he chatted with two veterans from the opposite side, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, here over the last two weeks.

Today, thanks to “a lot of positive talk” from the two Indian stalwarts, Bashar, who averaged just 13 over eight knocks in the Caribbean, has now put his ODI farewell on hold — he has played 111 games so far.

“I was really upset after the World Cup when people started criticising my form in the West Indies because I had two very good years leading into the tournament. Then I came to know that the Indian players, who are much bigger than us, faced demonstrations and protests outside their homes. And I realised what I had been through was nothing,” Bashar told this paper.

“Then, the Indian team reached here, and I spend some time talking to Dravid, and had dinner with Ganguly, who is such a big star here. Both of them encouraged me not to lose heart, stay positive, and not take any hasty decision for the wrong reasons, just because of public criticism. And that’s what I did,” he added.

The result: Bashar will now take another call next February, before Bangladesh, who are on tour this year, will play their next ODI at home.