Ahead of Bangladesh’s “big Test series” in India, Mahmudullah has returned on his track after being sidelined for a long period due to injury, as the all-rounder was happy with his bowling in the first round of the ongoing National Cricket League (NCL) – First-Class domestic tournament.
Since the last February, a shoulder injury didn’t allow Mahmudullah to bowl, though, he returned to bowl occasionally for Bangladesh in the ODI series against Sri Lanka and the home Test series against Afghanistan, but not with full intensity.
He bowled 39 overs and scored 63 runs for Dhaka Metro in the first game of the ongoing National Cricket League (NCL) and picked up six wickets, which showed great signs of regaining back his full rhythm, to help his team to draw the match against the Chattogram Division.
However, the bowler admitted that he needed some big spells under his belt to get back the confidence as a bowler and find a place for the India tour, as all players are trying hard to find a spot in the Bangladesh squad for the upcoming series.
Mahmudullah told reporters after the Mirpur match, “I was eager to bowl since I returned from an injury that prevented me from bowling for more than seven months. I tried to bowl as much as possible in this game. I could not bowl for seven months because of my shoulder injury, so I tried to bowl some overs in the middle. I had a good bowling practice as I tried to bowl as many overs as possible because that was my target. My bowling always gives me some added confidence in my batting.”
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The 33-year-old continued, “We were told that we have to play two or three matches and our coach [ Russell Domingo] instructed us that way so everybody was focused and everybody tried their level best. We have the India series coming up. It's a big series and every national team player is trying to perform and get a chance in the squad.”
On his batting show, Riyad said: “I would have been happier if I could score a hundred. The bowlers were getting help in day two or even in day three and so I probably scored two or three runs in the opening 30 to 40 odd deliveries as I wanted to stay at wicket and score when my opportunity comes.”
Brushing aside criticisms around national players' don’t want to play in the NCL, the right-hander said: “We had lots of international matches. Everyone was busy too, playing league games. But it's not like we did have available time and we did not want to play. The thing is that, if we have proper time to rest and opportunities (to play)- we are ready to play because we want to play- does not matter if it's domestic or international matches. I think, there was a good difference (than earlier).”
Mahmudullah signed off by saying, “I think everyone is trying harder than before. Whether it's batting or bowling - everyone is working hard. That is the main thing. Sometimes you will perform and sometimes you won't but you have to keep the process active - that is important.”
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
