Mahmudullah Added To BCB’s Latest Central Contracts, Tamim Removed

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) unveiled its latest central contracts for national cricketers for the year 2024 on Monday.

Among the 21 players named, Mahmudullah Riyad was notably included, while former captain Tamim Iqbal was omitted.

Mahmudullah’s addition to the list follows some uncertainty surrounding his absence from the national team prior to last year’s World Cup. However, his impressive performances in both the World Cup and the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) likely influenced the decision to offer him a contract.

It’s worth noting that a contract in one format doesn’t preclude a player from participating in others unless they have officially retired. Therefore, Mahmudullah may still be available for selection in T20Is.

Tamim’s exclusion was expected, as he had previously indicated his desire not to be considered for the new contract, effectively signalling the conclusion of his international career. This decision followed his initial retirement announcement during a home series against Afghanistan last year, prompted by criticism from BCB president Nazmul Hasan.

Despite a brief return to the team after intervention from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, recurrent injuries have sidelined Tamim since then, causing him to miss both the Asia Cup and the World Cup in India last year.

Contracts have been distributed across different formats: five players for all three formats, two for ODI only, one for ODI and Test, six for Test only, four for T20I and ODI, and three for T20I only.

Apart from Tamim, three other players—Ebadot Hossain, Afif Hossain, and Mosaddek Hossain—have lost their contracts, while four others—Towhid Hridoy, Nasum Ahmed, Naeem Hasan, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib—have been included in the new contract.

Here’s how the contracts have been allocated:

– All formats: Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Medidy Hasan Miraz, Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Shoriful Islam.

– Test and ODI: Mushfiqur Rahim.

– Test only: Mominul Haque, Taijul Islam, Zakir Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Khaled Ahmed, Nayeem Hasan.

– ODI only: Mahmudullah Riyad, Tanzim Hasan Shakib.

– ODI and T20I: Taskin Ahmed, Tawhid Hridoy, Mustafizur Rahman, and Hasan Mahmud.

– T20I only: Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan, Nurul Hasan Sohan.