Former Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah has shared several untold stories from his international career. Speaking on the podcast Simply Sayeed, he spoke about his batting position, the painful loss to India in the 2016 T20 World Cup and the difficult period before the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Mahmudullah said he always wanted to bat higher in the order but rarely spoke about it. Instead, he accepted whatever role the team management gave him.
“Deep inside I always felt that batting at number four or five would suit me. But I never spoke up about it. I stayed quiet. If the chance came, I just wanted to make the most of it.”
He said his batting position changed many times during his career.
“For example, Mashrafe bhai would come and tell me, ‘Riyad, today you bat at four, tomorrow at five.’ I would reply, ‘Alright, okay.’ If I scored runs at five, he would say, ‘Today bat at six.’ I would again say, ‘Okay, fine. If you say so, no problem.’ In this way my batting position kept changing again and again.”
Mahmudullah believes he made more sacrifices with his batting order than any other player in the team.
“Over the years, Alhamdulillah, I changed my batting position many times for the Bangladesh team. I believe no one sacrificed their batting order as much as I did.”
“I did have my own preference, but I had to let it go. Alhamdulillah, I have no complaints. I was happy as long as I could do what the team needed and the team got good results.”
He also spoke about the heartbreaking defeat against India in the 2016 T20 World Cup in Bengaluru. Bangladesh were very close to winning that match.
“I still do not know what exactly happened in that game against India. It was tragic. It broke our hearts.”
“We cried on the field. When we returned to the hotel we cried again. Mushfiqur Rahim, myself and many others were in tears because we had come so close to beating India.”
Mahmudullah said the match gave him an important lesson.
“But in my life it became a big lesson. You have to take the game to the last ball and finish it properly. At that moment I thought if we just hit one boundary the match would be over. To be honest, that was a very foolish thought.”
The experienced batter also revealed an incident that hurt him deeply after he was dropped from the national team before the 2023 World Cup.
“Let me share a small story that people do not know. Since I said today I would reveal some things, I will tell this one.”
“At that time I was a contracted player with the BCB. One day I went to Mirpur to practise. National players usually use the indoor facilities, so I went to the academy side and asked for a wicket to bat for a while. They told me, ‘Bhai, there is no permission.’”
“I asked, ‘No permission?’ This had never happened before. Even if I was not contracted, why would I not be allowed? Then they said, ‘No, we were told from the higher level that you cannot practise here. I simply lowered my head and walked away. I never told this story to anyone.”
Mahmudullah said he later tried to prepare himself quietly away from the team.
“I believe strongly in Allah’s plan. I tried in my own way and practised wherever I could in quiet places.”
“I stayed away most of the time, especially when the team was practising. When the team had their session, I would not be there. I would come at a different time, finish my work quietly and leave.”
He said another shock came when a large preliminary squad for the World Cup was announced and his name was not included.
“Then another shocking news came before the World Cup. A 26-member squad was announced and I was not included. That year I was probably the second-highest run scorer for Bangladesh.”
Mahmudullah stayed out of the team for several months before finally returning.
“Later I returned during the New Zealand series. I think the team management did not really want that at the time. But many players were not performing, so I had to come back.”
“Alhamdulillah, in the first match I scored around 49. After that I made it into the World Cup squad.”
He also said players who serve the national team for many years deserve respect.
“If a player serves the team for so many years, he deserves at least a minimum level of respect. I am not saying this only for myself. It should apply to every player.”
“That is why I probably do not feel the same respect for that particular team management and those selectors from that time before the 2023 World Cup.”
Mahmudullah also spoke about his final Test match. He thanked former BCB president Nazmul Hasan for giving him the chance to play that match during the tour of Zimbabwe.
“At that time I was playing in the Premier League. One day Papon bhai called me. He told me, ‘Riyad, you are going to Zimbabwe to play the Test.’”
“I said, ‘Papon bhai, for the last six or seven months I have not even seen a red ball. I have not practised with it.’”
“But then I said, ‘Alright, no problem, I will go.’”
Mahmudullah had already decided that the Zimbabwe Test would be his last.
“But before leaving for the tour, one day I was having dinner at home and told my wife, ‘This will be my last Test.’”
“She thought I was joking. I told her, ‘No, I am serious. This will be my final Test.’”
“I had waited one and a half years for that chance. Whether I played well or badly, this would be my last Test.”
In that match in Bulawayo, Mahmudullah produced one of the best innings of his career.
“Alhamdulillah, I got the chance to bat at number eight and, by the grace of Allah, I scored 150. Allah made it happen. It was the best moment for me to say thank you and say goodbye to Test cricket for Bangladesh.”
Mahmudullah said he wanted to leave the format with dignity.
“He felt disappointed. Yes, we talked about it. He was a bit angry and also hurt.”
“But as I said earlier, I always wanted to leave the game on my own terms. I feel that as a player and as a person, at least that way you protect your self-respect.”
