Don't want to talk about the treatment I received, not a good time to talk: Mahmudullah

Amidst his unenviable treatment by the Bangladeshi selectors leading up to the World Cup, Mahmudullah, the seasoned batter, maintains a stoic silence. He acknowledges that there's much left unsaid but deems it inappropriate to voice concerns mid-tournament. Mahmudullah's resilient batting remains a rare bright spot for Bangladesh, who languish at the bottom, suffering four consecutive defeats.

Mahmudullah, occupying the number six spot, displayed unwavering resilience with a heroic 111 runs - marking his fourth ODI century, breaking the drought of six years. Despite his spectacular effort, the Shakib Al Hasan-led squad succumbed to a staggering 149-run loss against South Africa. While selectors seemed to be moving past him in the months leading to the World Cup, the inconsistent performances of the youthful talents compelled his return after half a year in the cricketing wilderness. 

“It was a good time. I can’t say anything regarding that time. I do want to talk about a lot of things but this is not the right time to talk about. All I can say is that I wanted to contribute to the team. I would have liked to contribute more so that we won the game. Probably Allah has given me the strength to keep going. I tried to keep my fitness in shape. I kept working hard. That is all I can do,” Mahmudullah told the media after the match.

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Mahmudullah dedicates his century to his family and well wishers 

In pursuit of a daunting 383-run target, Bangladesh found themselves in dire situation at 81 for six. The 37-year-old, alongside the lower-order batters, valiantly battled to extend their innings, ultimately reaching 233 in 46.4 overs. The seasoned campaigner reserved his century, a rare gem in his 225-match ODI journey, as a tribute to those who stood by him during the challenging "last three months." 

“I would like to dedicate it to my family and those people who supported and prayed for me in the last three months. I want to thank those among you who supported me, and those who didn’t support me. I tried to contribute to the team’s cause. I have seen a lot of ups and downs throughout my career,” said the 37-year-old.