Mamudullah likely to lead Bangladesh in Tests and T20Is

With their Test and T20I captain Shakib Al Hasan getting ruled out of the action for a while now owing to a serious finger injury, Bangladesh will be looking for someone to replace him. The reliable middle-order batsman Mahmudullah Riyad could be the man to don the captain’s mantle in those two formats.

The Tigers will play a couple of series at home in the next few months – hosting the Windies and Zimbabwe and although the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) hasn’t yet decided who will be replacing the ace all-rounder, the baton is highly likely to go to the 32-year-old Mymensingh born.

That the batsman himself is also not tending to shy away from a possible role to lead his side was known when he said during a sports conversation that he always enjoys the leader’s role.

I always like captaincy

“I always like captaincy. It is a challenging and respectable task. I’m eager to take the challenge if the opportunity would come up,” Mahmudullah was quoted as saying by bdcrictime during a talk show ‘Sports Hub-Bangladesh’. He has led Bangladesh in two Tests (no win, one loss, one draw) and five T20Is (one win, four losses) so far.

Mahmudullah himself is also carrying an injury that he had sustained during the West Indies tour in July. He carried it into the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and the recently held Asia Cup in which Bangladesh ended as the runners-up. He hopes he will regain his fitness by the time Bangladesh prepare for its next series.

“Troubles of injuries would remain there. We have to play with these. I know persistent playing has worsen the condition – the pain has moved towards my chest. I’m bit well now resting for a few days. Hope I will make the come back on time,” he said.

On losing close matches, the experienced cricket opined that perhaps “mental blockades” were stopping Bangladesh from winning such games, especially against India. Bangladesh lost two finals, including that in the Asia Cup, to India this year in the last ball, leaving the side and its supporters heartbroken.

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