After receiving the backlash over his recent dismal performance in the Test format Bangladesh’s all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad would return home after the team manager Khaled Mahmud Sujon revealed to the media during the ongoing two-match Joy Bangla Cup in Sri Lanka.
In the latest development, Mahmud told that the Mymensingh-born Mahmudullah will miss out the second and final Test media during the Bangladesh’s practice session in Colombo.
“As he is a senior member of the side, we thought it best to send him home as he will not be playing in the second Test,” Mahmud was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.
It has been further decided the 31-year-old senior batsman Mahmudullah will fly home on the eve of the hundredth Test of Bangladesh which is seen as the milestone for the Tigers since achieving the Test status in 2001.
However, the 25-yearold right-handed batsman Sabbir Rahman is going to be the ideal choice to replace the batting all-rounder.
The decision came after the visitors lost the first Test by the massive margin of 259 runs in Galle.
“It is understandable that Mahmudullah is not in form in Test cricket but in limited overs, he is one of our ‘impact cricketers.’ He should be replaced with a better option. But is there anyone like that right now in Bangladesh back up line?,” brcrictime.com quoted one of the officials in Bangladesh Cricket Board.
Bangladesh is all set to play 100th Test at the P Sara Oval in Colombo on March 15 before the visitors’ players will attend the medal-giving ceremony.
The reports also suggested Bangladesh selectors are eyeing to avail the services of Shuvagata Hom in the upcoming limited-overs’ series. However, Mahmudullah has played the key role for the Tigers in the limited over format where he is averaging 32.85 in 50-over format in 134 matches which further included 70 wickets.
On the other side, Bangladesh is yet to decide whether they will continue with Mahmudullah for the three ODIs and two T20s later this month.
After registering a half-century against India in One-off Test, Mahmudullah was able to score nought and 8 in Galle Test where Bangladesh was bundled out for 197 runs in the second innings.
Earlier, in the morning on Monday, Mahmudullah was practising alongside his teammates after turning to the warm-up drills.
Since making his Test debut against West Indies in 2009 against West Indies, Mahmudullah has played 33 Tests in which he has amassed 1,809 runs at an average of 30.15.