Mahmudullah of Bangladesh believes he may have been granted an excessive amount of rest before his inclusion in the national ODI squad for the ongoing ICC World Cup. This experienced batter marked his return to ODI cricket during the home series against New Zealand after a prolonged absence of six months, during which he was omitted from the squad following the home series against England earlier this year.
The national selection committee justified his exclusion by terming it as a ‘rest,’ while many believed that Mahmudullah’s career was nearly over, considering the team management’s strong emphasis on promoting young talents in preparation for the World Cup.
However, the repeated failures of these emerging players forced the national team management to recall Mahmudullah, although he was initially placed lower in the batting order, going below the No.6 position until the South Africa match. Nevertheless, Mahmudullah seized the opportunity and made a significant impact by scoring his fourth ODI century at the Wankhede Stadium, making a resounding statement.
Regarding his time away from the national team, Mahmudullah commented, “I can’t discuss that period. There are many things I’d like to address, but this isn’t the right moment to do so. I don’t know; perhaps Allah granted me the strength to persevere. I maintained my fitness and worked diligently. All I can say is that I aimed to contribute to the team and would have liked to contribute more to secure our victory.”
He also shared his thoughts on the extended rest he received, emphasizing that it was not within his control but rather a decision made by the team management. He stated, “I believe I may have had a bit too much rest. That decision was beyond my control. It was made by the team management. If I can fulfill my role diligently, it’s satisfactory for me and the team.”
Mahmudullah expressed no hard feelings about batting lower in the order, as the team management opted to place him at number eight instead of his preferred role. He acknowledged, “I’ve encountered numerous highs and lows throughout my career. Batting down the order is acceptable.”
He went on to explain, “Yesterday, the coach informed me that I would be batting at No. 6. I went out there and simply played my natural game. I didn’t have my century in mind; I was just focused on batting. I told Mustafiz [bowling partner] to hang in there, as there was a concern about the run-rate. I aimed to stay at the crease, accumulate runs for the team, and go deep into the innings.”
Lastly, Mahmudullah expressed his desire to dedicate his century to his family and extended gratitude to both his supporters and critics who stood by him during this crucial phase of his career. He stated, “I would like to dedicate this century to my family and to all those who supported and prayed for me over the past three months. I extend my thanks to both my supporters and those who did not support me.”