Mahmudullah Riyad Excluded from Bangladesh’s 26-Member Camp for Afghanistan Series. Bangladesh’s experienced campaigner, Mahmudullah Riyad, has not been included in the 26-member preparatory camp for the upcoming series against Afghanistan at home.

The camp commenced today at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, with assistant coach Nic Pothas overseeing the batting practice session from the beginning.

Team manager Nafees Iqbal informed the media that five of the 26 cricketers, expected to participate in the red and white-ball series against Afghanistan, are yet to join the camp.

Mahmudullah’s omission came as a surprise, considering that Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal had previously mentioned Mahmudullah’s consideration for the number seven spot in the batting order, with the 2023 ODI World Cup in mind. The President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Nazmul Hassan Papon, had also echoed similar sentiments.

Nafees further informed that Mahmudullah, who lost his place in the ODI team after the home series against England in March and subsequently missed two ODI series against Ireland, was present in the country but was not called up for the preparatory camp.

When asked about Mahmudullah’s absence in the camp, Nafees responded, “No, otherwise you would have seen him.”

Following the expected announcement of the squad for the lone Test against Afghanistan scheduled for June 14, the Bangladesh team will intensify their preparations with official training sessions starting from June 4, a day after head coach Chandika Hathurusingha returns to the country.