All-rounder Mahmudullah hit a match-winning fifty in the fourth one-day international against Zimbabwe on Friday and then hit back Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan for implicating him in a so-called player’s syndicate. Nazmul in a press conference on Thursday said junior players were unwelcome in the national team until recently and cited the example of Mahmudullah saying that the senior players had advocated for his position.
Mahmudullah grabbed his very first opportunity to show his worth hitting an unbeaten 82, his career best innings that set up a 21-run win for Bangladesh.
He shared 134 runs with fellow half-centurion Mushfiqur Rahim (77) to help Tigers recover from a disastrous 4-32 and post a competitive 256-8 in their 50 overs.
‘I don’t think or felt that way,’ Mahmudullah told reporters at Mirpur when his attention was drawn regarding the comments made by the BCB president.
‘We always try to appreciate that [junior’s arrival] and whenever they arrive they come on the back of good performance despite being a junior,’ said Mahmudullah.
‘We always try to help them or guide them as well as we try to maintain the standard both on and off the field sharing how we are going to approach the match,’ said Mahmudullah.
Mahmudullah attributed his 112-ball innings, which earned him his third man-of-the-match award in ODIs, to his promotion in the batting order.
Unlike most of his career Mahmudullah was given a chance to bat at number four in this series, which gave him a more time to adapt.
‘I like to take a bit of time when I start an innings, so batting at number four is helpful,’ said Mahmudullah after scoring his first fifty in 18 months.
‘I am enjoying this position at the moment and I hope to contribute more for the team though I must admit that I gave a good try,’ he said.
The 28- year old all-rounder brushed aside the suggestions that Bangladesh became relaxed after going 3-0 up in the series, which nearly caused their downfall.
‘I really wanted us to win today, and take the 4-0 lead,’ said Mahmudullah. ‘I hope we can finish it 5-0.’
The only regret he had was not being able reach his maiden century despite he had time with him to accelerate.
‘To be honest, I wanted to score the hundred,’ he said. ‘When we started the fifth wicket partnership, Mushfiqur was leading the charge and I was playing the anchor role. I didn’t take many risks.
‘Then Sabbir [Rahman] and Raju [Abul Hasan] got out so I wanted to be there till the end. I was planning to hit in the last 2-3 overs. I hope to do it next time,’ he added.
-With New Age input
