In a recent development, the Bangladesh Cricket Board recalled veteran all-rounder Mahmudullah for Bangladesh’s upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka on home soil, starting from early March onwards. Two of Asia’s biggest cricketing rivals are set to lock horns in a 3-match ODI and T20I series which will begin with the shortest format from March 4 onwards.
Mahmudullah was not a part of Bangladesh which recently welcomed Kane Williamson’s New Zealand for a full-fledged all-format series last year in December for a month-long tour where they played 2 Tests and 3 T20Is as well as ODIs. The Kiwis were only able to win the ODI series by 2-1 otherwise the Test and T20 series remained 1-1.
In their upcoming international assignment after the conclusion of Bangladesh Premier League 2024, the Bangla Tigers host the Lanka Lions from March 4 onwards (1st T20I). The following T20Is will then take place on the 6th and 9th in Sylhet before the ODI series on the 13th, 15th, and 18th of March in Chattogram.
The BCB has also included uncapped spin bowler Aliss Al Islam into the T20 side and has also recalled players like Mohammad Naim, Anamul Haque, Taijul Isman, and Taskin Ahmed. But the biggest news from BCB’s squad announcement has been the inclusion of Mahmudullah.
The all-rounder who is just 2 years from turning 40, last played a T20 game for the national side in 2022 during the 20-over Asia Cup in Dubai which was eventually won by Sri Lanka. Since then he went through a lean patch especially in the shortest format and was also ignored for the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 which took place a few months after the continental event.
He was still managing to find a spot in the ODI side owing to solid performances and the board had no option but to hand him a recall for their upcoming series after a brilliant outing in the Cricket World Cup 2023 as well as decent BPL 2024 knocks.
Mahmudullah had amassed 328 runs across 8 matches in CWC 2023, including a century against South Africa and a sole half-century against Pakistan in the league stages before the Bangladeshis finished at the bottom half of the table and missed out from direct ICC Champions Trophy 2025 qualification.
In the ongoing BPL season, the 38-year-old has accumulated 197 runs in 9 matches for the Fortune Barishal at a good strike rate of 143.79. Although his team, which is led by outcast opening batter Tamim Iqbal are going to find it hard to make it to the play-off rounds but Mahmudullah will be happy regardless for the national team’s comeback.
This Is How Bangladesh’s Squad Looks Like After Mahmudullah’s Inclusion
T20I Squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Litton Kumer Das, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Md Naim Sheikh, Tawhid Hridoy, Soumya Sarkar, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Mahmud Ullah, Taijul Islam, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Aliss Al Islam
ODI squad for opening two ODIs: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Anamul Haque Bijoy, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Litton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Mustafizur Rahman