Veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah missing out on the Asia Cup 2023 squad has been one big discussion point since the declaration of the 17-man squad Saturday morning.
According to the chief of the national selection panel Minhajul Abedin, the selectors had a long discussion on Mahmudullah and eventually had to keep the 37-year old off the squad following disagreement from the team management, led by head coach Chandika Hathurusingha.
“We had a long discussion on Mahmudullah. We were given a plan by the team management. It was on how the management is planning their way ahead against the opponents. So Mahmudullah has been sidelined considering those discussions,” Minhajul informed the media during the press conference at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
“We of course think the plan set by the management is good, at the same time the head coach has his plan on operating the team. We had discussion on all aspects. We also had discussion with the captain [Shakib al Hasan] and then came to the decision,” the former Bangladesh skipper added.
Mahmudullah last played for Bangladesh against England in March this year and scored 31, 32 and eight runs respectively in the three One Day Internationals.
Since then, Mahmudullah’s place in the national dressing room has been vulnerable to say the least.
The selection panel removed Mahmudullah in the next series, against Ireland, and to avoid controversy the selectors had said the cricketer has been “rested”, which however, did not go down well.
Mahmudullah returned to the scene on July 19 initially with personal training sessions at SBNCS.
He had finished on par in the fitness test and was part of the initial skill training camp.
But his efforts failed to please Hathurusingha.
There is wide discussion over whether Mahmudullah’s chances of making it to the upcoming Cricket World Cup 2023 are now non-existent.
Chief selector Minhajul insisted that the door is still open for Mahmudullah given that the squad declared is for the Asia Cup, and not the 50-over World Cup.
“This is not the World Cup team. This squad is for the Asia Cup. Let us now think of this team at the moment. We are looking to declare the World Cup squad by September 5,” said Minhajul.
Minhajul’s statement clearly cited that the team has been formed with feedback from the team management.
“Team management had given us a plan. They wanted to have an additional spinner, additional pacer and like who to play at number seven-eight. We had long discussion on this. So, the squad for the Asia Cup has been formed based on those discussions,” said Minhajul.
