T20 World Cup 2022: Mahmudullah Dropped As Bangladesh Announce T20 World Cup Squad

Mahmudullah Riyad, a previous T20I captain, was left off of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB15-player )’s roster that would be headed by top all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan for the forthcoming T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia next month. 

Next month, this team will go to New Zealand for a tri-nation T20I series with Pakistan. The tri-nation series will serve as the World Cup’s warm-up. 

Mahmudullah, who led the Tigers in the T20 World Cup that was held in the UAE last year, has recently been under fire for his recent struggles in the shortest version of the game, particularly because of his poor strike rate.

Mahmudullah Dropped After Consultation With All Members Of Team Management: BCB Chief Selector

It was also discovered that the cricketer had lost the favour of the team administration and selectors following a poor performance in the Asia Cup earlier this month, in which Bangladesh departed from the group stage without recording a single win. 

At a press conference in Mirpur today, BCB chief selector Minhajul Abedin and selector Habibul Bashar unveiled the team for the World Cup. 

“Our T20 consultant [Sridharan Sriram] has given us a plan for the next one year. We are heading in a different direction in accordance with that plan.

And we dropped Mahmudullah Riyad after consultation with all the members of the team management,” BCB chief selector said.

Both Minhajul and Bashar were unsure when asked if this marks the end of Mahmudullah’s T20I career before Bashar finally responded: “Time will tell. A player will always have the opportunity to make a comeback as long as he has not retired from the format.”   

Liton Das Makes Comeback To The Squad

The three players who were injured and missed the Asia Cup, star opener Liton Das, wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul Hasan Sohan, and bowler Hasan Mahmud, have all been called up to the team for the World Cup. 

While Sohan was unable to go to the UAE for the continental tournament owing to a finger injury sustained during the Zimbabwe trip, Liton missed the final two One Day Internationals against Zimbabwe in August as well as the whole Asia Cup due to a hamstring ailment.

Hasan Mahmud, who had been absent from the national team for more than 16 months prior to the most recent Zimbabwe visit, was unfortunate to suffer an ankle injury during a practice session for the Asia Cup. 

One of the four stand-by players in the team, Soumya Sarkar, who was cut from the squad due to his subpar performances in the most recent T20 World Cup, has been retained. 

Opening Batting Position An Area Of Concern For Bangladesh

The opening position is still the main area of worry for the Bangladesh team management before the major T20 tournament, therefore rumours about Soumya’s selection to the side have been rampant over the past few days. 

Yasir Ali, who has recently experienced injury issues, is also back with the team. 

Najmul Hossain Shanto, who was left off the team for the Asia Cup, is also back for the World Cup. Shanto has been added to the team as a “back-up” opener, the selectors were informed. 

Mushfiqur Rahim, an accomplished player who withdrew from the format soon after the Asia Cup, would also be absent from Bangladesh’s inaugural T20 World Cup. Shakib, the captain, is really the only member of Bangladesh’s great four to be still playing, with Tamim Iqbal having left the format in July and Mahmudullah being unpicked. 

Bangladesh squad: Shakib Al Hasan (C), Liton Das, Mosaddek Hossain, Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan (VC), Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Mohammad Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Yasir Ali, Nasum Ahmed, Najmul Hossain Shanto  

Stand-by: Shoriful Islam, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Soumya Sarkar 

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