Bangladesh cricket is set to get a glimpse of a new era in Tests when they take on hosts West Indies in the first of the two World Test Championship (WTC) fixtures from November 22 in Antigua.
Mahmudullah Riyad fell in the nervous nineties for the first time in his international career, but not before the veteran smashed a brilliant run-a-ball 98 to propel Bangladesh to 244 for eight in the series-deciding third ODI against Afghanistan in Sharjah yesterday.
Former Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal suddenly appeared in the press box yesterday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, just before the Tigers’ second T20I against hosts India at the venue.
Since the beginning of Bangladesh’s three-match T20I series against hosts India, there have been speculations regarding Mahmudullah Riyad’s retirement from the shortest format. Even Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) sources had revealed early on Tuesday that there was an announcement coming from Mahmudullah.
Mahmudullah Riyad became the last of the ‘big five’ of Bangladesh -- also including Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza -- to announce his retirement from T20Is on Tuesday.
Bangladesh batter Mahmudullah Riyad said on Tuesday that he had no regrets looking back on his career after the 38-year-old announced he will retire from T20Is after the completion of the ongoing three-match T20I series against India.
“Who are you comparing whom with?” Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto said when a journalist asked a question drawing comparison between Mahmudullah Riyad and Shamim Patwari.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his inclusion, the 38-year-old was named in the 15-member squad announced for the upcoming three-match T20I series against India, starting in Gwalior on October 6.
Veteran Mahmudullah Riyad held his spot while Mehedi Hasan Miraz made a comeback to the T20I side as Bangladesh announced a 15-member squad for the three-match T20I series against India, starting in Gwalior on October 6.
Mahmudullah Riyad became the fourth Bangladesh batter to reach the 5,000 ODI runs landmark as Bangladesh were building around a half-century from Najmul Hossain Shanto in the third and final match against New Zealand in Mirpur on Tuesday.
Bangladesh’s stand-in captain Liton Das said he would like the experienced duo of Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah Riyad to play freely and enjoy their game during the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting in Mirpur tomorrow.
Riyad was dropped following the series against England in March this year after his failure to produce the goods with the bat. His fielding had also come under scrutiny, even from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon.
Liton Das will lead the team in the first two matches as regular skipper Shakib Al Hasan has been rested.
Bangladesh batter Mahmudullah Riyad scored a 39-ball 26 in a practice match between Bangladesh Tigers and a team comprising of players from the Asian Games squad at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Thursday.
Bashar considers Tamim's experience invaluable for the Tigers.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director Khaled Mahmud Sujon said that the selection panel leaving veteran Mahmudullah Riyad out of the Asia Cup squad came strictly out of their planning.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu said that the decision to leave out experienced campaigner Mahmudullah Riyad from the Asia Cup was done after discussing the matter at length with the team management, skipper Shakib Al Hasan and head coach Chandika Hathurusingha.
Experienced Mahmudullah Riyad did not make the cut while Tanzid Hossain Tamim got his first national team call-up as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup later this month.
With Shakib Al Hasan named as the ODI captain yesterday, there was no obstruction left to announce the Bangladesh squad for the Asia Cup.
