Mahmudullah, a batsman for Bangladesh, will sit out the first two ODIs of their upcoming series against Ireland. The Bangladeshi selectors have decided to give other players an opportunity to compete at the highest level. Mahmadullah has played 218 ODIs for Bangladesh since his debut in 2007. In the most recent series against England, the right-handed hitter struggled, scoring just 71 runs over three games.
In order to give other players a chance and monitor everyone’s form before the ODI World Cup later this year, Bangladesh Cricket Board chief selector Minhajul Abedin explained why the seasoned batter was being rested. “Mahmudullah is rested. We have given the others a platform to do well at the highest level. Zakir has been doing well. Shoriful is returning due to his full fitness. This is actually the easiest time to see everyone’s form in a World Cup year,” BCB (Bangladesh Cricket Board) chief selector Minhajul Abedin said.
Mahmudullah has been in fantastic shape the previous two years, averaging nearly 50 in 2021 and 2022. He has only participated in three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in 2023, all of which were part of the series against England when he amassed a total of 71 runs in three games. In the 2015 ODI World Cup, the 37-year-old became the first hitter from Bangladesh to score a hundred runs, accomplishing the feat against England.
Bangladesh squad: Tamim Iqbal (c), Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Yasir Ali, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Zakir Hasan
