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.
Bangladesh Test skipper Shakib Al Hasan has welcomed the thought process of Bangladesh Cricket Board in appointing Nurul Hasan Sohan as the captain of the T20I side for the upcoming Zimbabwe series.
New captain of Bangladesh T20 team, Nurul Hasan Sohan, has said that he has learnt a lot from Mahmudullah Riyad, the man he replaced as skipper for the upcoming Zimbabwe tour.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has named Nurul Hasan Sohan the captain for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe later this month.
BCB president Nazmul Hassan said that they will start to think anew in terms of building a new T20 side.
Although the Tamim Iqbal-led Bangladesh side managed to whitewash the West Indies in the three-match ODI series with a four-wicket win in the final ODI in Guyana, his announcement to retire from T20I format for the Tigers grabbed all the spotlight in the cricket fraternity.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon admitted that the issue of Mahmudullah Riyad's T20I captaincy has come up in the media as the captain has been not amongst the runs but opined that changing captaincy at this moment will not bring immediate results.
Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal set his sights firmly on the 2023 World Cup in India, which, in his opinion, could be the final destination for the four seniors in the Bangladesh side, who will likely play their last World Cup together.
Despite a comfortable six-wicket victory over the West Indies in the first ODI, Bangladesh struggled on some occasions during the match, especially in the fielding department.
“Our bowlers should have stuck to their lines,” Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah Riyad said after his side suffered a five-wicket defeat over West Indies in the third and final T20I at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Thursday.
“We’ll be positive about playing the full match,” said Bangladesh T20I captain Mahmudullah Riyad today ahead of the third and final T20I against the West Indies in Guyana, a game (scheduled for BST 11:30 pm, Thursday) that is likely to be rain-affected. The Tigers skipper, whose side are 1-0 down in the series, replied to questions from reporters regarding the problem areas his team are looking to address with the series-deciding encounter and the World Cup in sight.
