Yesterday (September 14) in the sports community of Bangladesh, especially in cricket, only one thing was going around – former captain Mahmudullah Riyad not getting a place in the upcoming T20 World Cup team. Since then, Mahmudullah’s chapter in T20 International is over, according to many, given the current age-form-team environment.

Mahmudullah Riyad, the former T20 captain, did not get any place in the squad announced by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Wednesday ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup to be held in Australia next month. This situation made his future carrier uncertain in this edition.

But he does not want to stop here. This former captain wants to perform and return to the national team. Even he wants to serve Bangladesh cricket in T20s for two more years.

Before dropping him from the World Cup squad, BCB officials discussed with Mahmudullah on Tuesday night at a restaurant in Dhaka. BCB Cricket Operations chairman Jalal Yunus and chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu shared the board’s plan with him.

Jalal Yunus told him if he wants to retire after playing the first match in New Zealand, he will be given a chance. However, Mahmudullah did not agree to the proposal from the board.

A BCB official said, “Mahmudullah does not want to leave right now. He (Mahmudullah) said he wants to regain his place in the national team in T20 format and play for two more years.”

However, Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is likely to begin after the T20 World Cup. He has to prepare for this tournament. But only time will tell whether his hopes of returning to the team materialise or not.