Mahmudullah overlooked in Tigers’ Asia Cup squad

BSS, Dhaka :
Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim, popularly known as junior Tamim in the domestic cricket circuit, got a maiden call-up in the national team as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup on Saturday.

Tanzid Tamim replaced senior opener Tamim Iqbal, who was ruled out due to his back injury, in the opening slot after a brilliant performance in the recently concluded Emerging Asia Cup. Naim Sheikh is the other opener in the team.

The inclusion of Tanzid, a member of the Under-19 World Cup winning squad, signaled the fact that the BCB is looking for the future prospect.

Shamim Patwari, a teammate of Tanzid in the Under-19 team, who had already put up a good performance in T20 International, made the cut in the ODI team for the first time.

As it was speculated, there was no place for Mahmudullah Riyad, so as Afif Hossain, who failed to impress the selectors following his failure in the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan.

Mahmudullah got a ray of hope when he was included in the fitness camp but eventually he failed to make the cut.

The 37-year old Mahmudullah Riyad last played against England in March this year and scored just 31, 32 and 8 runs in three matches.

His strike rate was criticized, while his fielding was shaky that cost Bangladesh some crucial runs.

Mahmudullah continued to be overlooked as the likes of Shamim, Afif Hossain and Mahedi were considered ahead of him.

In the recent fitness camp, he got 17 in yo-yo test, which is considered fair enough.

Full squad: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Litton Das, Tanzid Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Sheikh Mahedi, Nasum Ahmed, Shamim Hossain, Afif Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Naim Sheikh.

Standby: Taijul Islam, Saif Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.