DHAKA, April 27, 2023 (BSS)-Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director and head of game development Khaled Mahmud Sujon believes veteran cricketer Mahmudullah Riyad has hardly any chance to get back to the national team for the upcoming World Cup.

Mahmud's statement on Mahmudullah is significant considering that the selectors had said that they kept the seasoned campaigner away from the national team to create enough options by giving the junior players some exposure.

But according to Mahmud, who was the team director of the national team, if the team management considers him for the World Cup, he would have been in the squad for the series Bangladesh are playing ahead of the cricket's biggest extravaganza.

"Mahmudullah Riyad is definitely an important player for us. He won a lot of matches for us in the past. To be honest, since he is not in the national team, I don't see him in the World Cup team. If he is considered for World Cup team, he would have been in the series that Bangladesh are playing now. The World Cup is just knocking at the door," Mahmud said here today.

Mahmud also said he does not know what is the plan of the team management regarding Mahmudullah.

"As I am not in the national team management in any capacity now, I don't know the plan. I don't even want to know how the selection process is going on."

Mahmudullah last donned Bangladesh jersey during the ODI series against England at home. He made only 71 runs in three matches as Bangladesh lost the series by 2-1, which was their first defeat at home since 2016.

That age has taken a toll on his body is clearly understood as his ground fielding cost Bangladesh heavily. He also put down some important catches to sink Bangladesh further.

Towhid Hridoy who was given chance in his place, also demonstrated his capability in both batting and fielding to make Mahmudullah's comeback tougher one.

"Hridoy is doing well there, Afif is also out of the team now, Mushfiquur is also doing well. So it's tough for Mahmudullah at this moment," Mahmud said.

"We've to consider the current situation. The thing that would have taken into consideration is how important it is to keep Mahmudullah in the team and or whether those who are playing in his place are able to perform or not," he went on saying.

"If they perform and the team is satisfied, Mahmudullah will have little chance. If not, he has the experience and we all believe that he can perform at any time if he comes back to the national team."

Mahmudullah now has only one chance to prove himself in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL). However, the veteran cricketer who is playing for Mohammedan in scored 284 runs in 11 matches at an average of 28.40. He had just three fifties, with the highest 71. This is not the performance that is enough to force the selectors to consider him again, according to the cricket experts.

However, DPL super league starts from May 1, where he would get another chance to prove his worth.