Mahmudullah dropped as Bangladesh announce T20 WC squad

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Wednesday left out former T20I skipper Mahmudullah Riyad as it announced the 15-member team for T20 World Cup 2022, to be held late October in Australia.

“Mahmudullah did very well for Bangladesh, but looking at the future, he is not part of our future plan,” Minhazul Abedin, the chief selector told media.

“The decision was taken after discussion with all involving parties — selectors, coaches and the board.

Minhazul also said the new T20 consultant Sridharan Sriram set a plan for the future for Bangladesh team and that has no space for Mahmudullah.

Mahmudullah has been going through a bad patch for a while now. The allrounder failed to impress in the Asia Cup. Before that, he failed to do well in Zimbabwe and West Indies tours as well.

Bangladesh will miss the service of seniors like Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal as both have retired from the format recently.

With being overlooked from the T20I squad, Mahmudullah’s T20I career has unofficially ended.

“Everyone has a chance to play for Bangladesh,” Habibul Bashar, the former captain and current selector said. But it’s clear, Mahmudullah’s career in the shortest format of the game has ended.

Sabbir Rahman, the top-order batter, has been added to the team, but Soumya Sarkar, who was in discussion, has been overlooked. Bangladesh, however, added Najmul Hossain Shanto, who has no impressive performance in the format.

“Najmul has been added to the squad after discussion with the captain, and coaching staff,” Minhajul said.

Ahead of the World Cup, Bangladesh will take part in a tri-series T20 in New Zealand which also involves Pakistan. The tri-series will begin on October 7 at Christchurch.

Bangladesh will play five matches in the Super 12s round of the World Cup in Group 2. They will have India, Pakistan, South Africa and two teams from the T20 World Cup qualifiers.

The Tigers will take the field in their first match on October 24 while their other matches are on October 27, 30, and on November 2 and 6.

The top two teams from each group of the Super 12s round will qualify for the Semifinals which will be played on November 9 and 10. The final of the World Cup will be played on November 13 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Bangladesh squad for the tri-series in New Zealand and T20 World Cup

Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Sabbir Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Liton Das, Yasir Ali, Nurul Hasan Sohan (vice-captain), Mustafizur Rahman, Mohammad Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Nasum Ahmed, Nazmul Hossain Shanto.

Standby: Shoriful Islam, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Soumya Sarkar.