On Monday, Afif Hossain and Shamim Hossain, two promising young batters, were spotted practicing in the indoor nets at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Although they were not part of the recent series against Ireland, they actively participated in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) instead.

Historically, both Afif and Shamim have showcased their skills as finishers for the Bangladesh team. Their presence in the national team’s “pre-series camp” ahead of the Afghanistan series raised the question of why Mahmudullah, an experienced player, was not present.

Another notable addition to the camp was opener Mohammad Naim, who is currently not part of the national team in any format. Naim’s last appearance for the Tigers was in August 2022 during the Asia Cup match against Afghanistan. The camp included a total of 26 cricketers, encompassing those currently part of the national team or in close contention. Surprisingly, Mahmudullah was not included among this substantial selection of players.

During the recent DPL, Mahmudullah batted 15 times in 16 matches, amassing 510 runs at an average of 36.42 and a strike rate of 87.17. These statistics are commendable for a middle-order batsman. However, despite his decent performance, why was he overlooked for the 26-member camp? Does this absence from a crucial training camp in a World Cup year indicate that Mahmudullah’s time in the Bangladesh team is coming to an end?

Further investigation revealed that Mahmudullah had requested leave for the Hajj pilgrimage. His leave is scheduled from 22 June to 5 July, coinciding with the start of the series against Afghanistan. Consequently, it appears unlikely that Mahmudullah will be able to participate in the home series.

“Riyad (Mahmudullah) has requested leave for Hajj. He will be on the Hajj pilgrimage from 22 June to 5 July. After that, he will join the camp. Therefore, he won’t be able to play in the ODI series as the first match is on the 5th,” stated Jalal Yunus, the Chairman of the BCB cricket operations.

Nevertheless, the national team continues to progress without Mahmudullah. Having retired from Test cricket, he now exclusively focuses on white-ball formats. Since the T20 Asia Cup last year, Mahmudullah has not been considered for selection in the shortest format. Additionally, he has been absent from the ODI team since the home series against England in February.

Bangladesh recently played two ODI series against Ireland without Mahmudullah and emerged victorious in both. In his absence, the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim took up the No. 6 batting position and excelled, scoring 286 runs at a strike rate of 120.

Mushfiqur’s outstanding performances at No. 6 provided an opportunity for young talent Towhid Hridoy to shine at No. 5. He made the most of his chances, accumulating 249 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 111.

The brilliant form of Mushfiqur and Towhid has thus far prevented Yasir Ali from securing a spot in the middle order. Additionally, Afif’s impressive performances in the DPL caught everyone’s attention. In 13 innings, he scored 550 runs, including one century and four half-centuries, at a remarkable strike rate of 110.

Considering the current circumstances, Mahmudullah’s return to the national team seems increasingly unlikely. However, there remains hope among many that this seasoned cricketer will feature in the ODI World Cup, scheduled to take place in India later this year.

Prior to the home series against Ireland, Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha had inquired about Mahmudullah’s future plans. In response, Mahmudullah expressed his intention to participate in the World Cup.

Only time will tell if Mahmudullah’s aspirations will be fulfilled.