[14] After overcoming his injuries, Mashrafe took his position back in the squad after 4 years and captained Bangladesh to the 2015 Cricket World Cup, where they were able to reach the quarterfinals for the first time.

The pace and aggression Mashrafe displayed as an under-19 player impressed Andy Roberts, the former West Indian fast bowler, who was acting as a temporary bowling coach for Bangladesh.

[62] Mashrafe returned from his career-threatening injury and, after impressing in Bangladesh domestic cricket, he was selected in the 13-man squad to face India in a home two-Test series during December 2004.

In the final innings of the first match, Mashrafe took the ninth wicket and with victory imminent he struggled to bowl the next ball and had to wipe away tears and regain his composure before starting his run-up.

[77] In September 2005 a back injury meant that Mashrafe had to return home from Bangladesh's tour of Sri Lanka before the start of the first Test.

The injury—a type of stress fracture expected to take between six and twelve weeks to heal[78]—saw Mashrafe unable to play any cricket for several months.

After Habibul Bashar stepped down from Bangladesh's one-day captaincy, Mohammad Ashraful was appointed the team captain in all forms of cricket on 2 June 2007.

[101] Mashrafe was selected for the Asia squad to play in the 2007 Afro-Asia Cup, a three-match ODI series, replacing Pakistan fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar.

[103] At the inaugural World Twenty20, held in South Africa in September 2007, Mashrafe took two wickets at 80.00 and scored 35 runs at 8.75 in five matches as Bangladesh progressed to the second stage of the tournament.

Brett Lee claimed Shakib Al Hasan's wicket, followed by Mortaza's and then that of Alok Kapali to help Australia to a 9-wicket win.

[108] In Bangladesh's two Tests against South Africa in February and March 2008, Mashrafe failed to take a single wicket in either match and his team lost 2–0.

Mashrafe was forced to miss out on Bangladesh's warm-up match due to a sore back,[121] but played in all the Tests and ODIs, taking two expensive wickets in each series.

Mashrafe, wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim, and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan were identified as potential successors, but the board decided to let Ashraful remain as captain.

[126] Following Bangladesh's early exit from the 2009 ICC World Twenty20, as a result of their defeat by Ireland, Mohammad Ashfraful's leadership was criticised, but stated that he wished to remain captain.

[127] In June 2009, the BCB relieved Ashraful of the captaincy so that he could focus on his batting and Mashrafe was appointed captain for the tours of the West Indies and Zimbabwe.

[130] Mashrafe's injury prevented him from taking part in the remainder of the tour and his replacement, Shakib Al Hasan, led Bangladesh to a 2–0 and 3–0 victories in the Test and ODI series respectively.

[131][132] In early August, Mashrafe travelled to Australia to undergo arthroscopic surgery on both knees; the expected recovery time from the operation was six weeks.

He also said that if his injury problems persisted he would contemplate retiring from Test cricket to focus on ODIs and T20s, similar to fellow fast bowlers Shane Bond, Shaun Tait, Andrew Flintoff, and Brett Lee.

[155] He hoped to recover in time, and when it was announced that Mashrafe had not been included in the World Cup squad there was rioting in Bangladesh and in one place a half-day strike.

[159] The knee injury incurred in December required surgery which was deferred until May; the operation left him unable to play cricket until at least October.

Though in the penultimate game he struggled he regained full fitness to bowl in the final,[169] and finished as Bangladesh's leading seamer with six wickets from four matches.

[170] Mashrafe led his team to the Quarter Finals of the World Cup for the first time when they beat Scotland, Afghanistan and England in the group stage.

[180] On 4 January 2021, he was dropped for the first time from the ODI squad since making his debut in November 2001, though he has missed a lot of cricket over the years because of injuries.

[181] On 11 March 2021,he was named amongst 10 leaders from South Asia in Weforum's Young Global Leaders list for leading his team to the finals of three major international tournaments and also playing a significant role in helping people move out of the poverty trap in his hometown of Narail in Bangladesh by launched the Narail Express Foundation, which looks to achieve six goals: offer modern facilities for citizens and a specialized education system, help start an ethical and humane education system, create employment opportunities, increase cultural activities, provide sports training, set up a tourism hub in Chitra river, and transform Narail into an information and communications technology (ICT) and environmentally friendly town.

[100] Jamie Siddons, the Bangladesh coach, has stated that he believes Mashrafe does not get the bowling figures he deserves because "opposing teams tend to see him off and then attack the others".

[188] Mashrafe has also commented that "it always puts pressure on the bowlers when their side is bowled out cheaply in the first innings", something that the Bangladesh batting line-up has sometimes struggled with.

[189][190] Mashrafe's batting is characterised by a reluctance to get in line with the bowling and he prefers to take a step towards square leg to facilitate his powerful shots.

[169] In March 2020, Mashrafe became the first pace bowler and third player for Bangladesh to take 700 wickets in the professional career after Abdur Razzak and Shakib Al Hasan.

[1] Although he had never been involved in politics during his cricket career, Mashrafe collected an MP nomination form for 2018 Bangladeshi general election on 11 November 2018 under Awami League's banner.

[206] The former skipper of Bangladesh cricket team, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, has been made the youth and sports affairs secretary of former ruling party Awami-League (AL).