Bangladesh Hopes for Mahmudullah’s Return Ahead of Must-Win Match Against New Zealand

Bangladesh is optimistic about the return of experienced batter Mahmudullah Riyad ahead of the do-or-die clash against New Zealand in Rawalpindi on February 24. To keep their hopes of reaching the Champions Trophy semifinals alive, the Tigers must win this crucial match.

Mahmudullah has been in excellent form, scoring four half-centuries in his last four ODIs. However, he suffered a muscle injury during practice before the match against India. In his absence, Bangladesh’s batting lineup struggled significantly, losing five wickets for just 35 runs. Although Towhid Hridoy’s brilliant century and Zakir Ali’s fifty helped the team put up some resistance, it wasn’t enough to secure victory. India eventually won the match by six wickets in the 48th over.

Team manager Rabid Imam has confirmed that Mahmudullah’s injury is not serious and that he is recovering well. “His scan did not reveal any tear, which is a positive sign. A final decision will be made after the last training session before the New Zealand match,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Hridoy, who suffered from cramps during his century, is now fully fit, according to the team management.

If Mahmudullah returns, the team management will face a selection dilemma. Both Zakir and Hridoy performed well against India, making it difficult to drop them. In such a scenario, one of the top three batters or Mushfiqur Rahim might be rested.

On the other hand, New Zealand is in top form. They began their Champions Trophy campaign with a 60-run victory over Pakistan and have also dominated the recent tri-series in Pakistan. This means the match will be challenging for Bangladesh, but Mahmudullah’s return could boost the team’s confidence significantly.