Bangladesh on Wednesday axed former cricket captain Mahmudullah Riyad and recalled batsman Najmul Hossain in a shake-up to its struggling Twenty20 squad ahead of next month’s World Cup in Australia.
This month’s disappointing Asia Cup campaign highlighted the team’s 20-over woes, with Bangladesh turfed out in the group stage after losing to Afghanistan and eventual winners Sri Lanka.
Mahmudullah’s inclusion was under a cloud after a lacklustre 151 runs across his eight match appearances in 2022.
Indian cricketer Sridharan Sriram, appointed last month as the team’s T20 consultant, said it was time for the team to think of its future beyond the 36-year-old.
“I think this was the right time for all of us to come together and think of… who can fill in the big shoes of Mahmudullah,” he said.
Chief selector Minhajul Abedin hailed Mahmudullah’s record but added that the decision to omit the all-rounder from the squad was unanimous.
“We have respect for Mahmudullah who has played well for the national team,” he said.
“We haven’t been doing well in this format,” Minhajul added. “Our T20 consultant has given us a one-year plan, which will take us in a different direction. We have gone with this plan.”
Najmul returns after he was left out of contention during the Asia Cup campaign while Liton…
