Bangladesh coach Russell Domingo wants Mahmudullah to lead 'Tigers' in T20 World Cup 2020

The next T20 World Cup will be held in October-November this year and all teams have started executing their plans towards that direction. Bangladesh are also among them and their coach Russell Domingo wants to see veteran batsman Mahmudullah to lead the side in the showpiece event. The 33-year-old is in charge of the Tigers’ T20 team since last October as Shakib Al Hasan was handed a suspension for not reporting a match-fixing approach. Domingo doesn’t want the set-up to be changed in the run-up to the big tournament.

Bangladesh have been clubbed with Namibia, Netherlands and Scotland in Group B of the first round of the World Cup and are much likely to qualify for the Super 12. The Tigers are ranked No.9 in the ICC rankings in T20Is though they gave a much better-placed India a tough fight in a T20I series recently under Mahmudullah’s captaincy. They beat India in the format for the first time but lost the next two games to squander the series.

“I am hoping he leads us in the World Cup T20. He has my full support. I thought he did a great job in India. I have enjoyed working with him. I think he is a good professional. He has the respect of the change room. He is a world-class player. He is my captain,” ESPNcricinfo quoted the South African-born Domingo as saying.

Bangladesh to play Pakistan in T20I series next

Bangladesh are next set to play Pakistan in three T20Is scheduled in Lahore between January 24 and 27 and Mahmudullah is leading the squad. The batsman has played in 83 matches in the shortest format to score over 1,400 runs at a strike rate of 122 plus and has also scalped 31 wickets. They will also play two Tests and one ODI during the series that remained under uncertain till recently.

Bangladesh have played in all six T20 World Cups starting with the first edition in 2007 and their best results have been reaching the second round in 2007, 2014 and 2016. In the 2016 edition, their one-run loss to Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s India became one of the most talked-about incidents in the tournament.

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