Mahmudullah axed, Liton back in Tigers' squad

Bangladesh axed on Wednesday former captain Mahmudullah Riyad and recalled batsman Najmul Hossain in a shake-up to its struggling Twenty20 squad ahead of next month's World Cup in Australia, report agencies.
This month's disappointing Asia Cup campaign highlighted the team's 20-over woes, with Bangladesh turfed out in the group stage after losing to Afghanistan and eventual winners Sri Lanka.
Mahmudullah's inclusion was under a cloud after a lacklustre 151 runs across his eight match appearances in 2022.
Indian cricketer Sridharan Sriram, appointed last month as the team's T20 consultant, said it was time for the team to think of its future beyond the 36-year-old.
"I think this was the right time for all of us to come together and think of... who can fill in the big shoes of Mahmudullah," he said.
"Mahmudullah did very well for Bangladesh, but to look at the future, we have thought he is not part of our future plan," Minhazul Abedin, the chief selector told the media.
"The decision is taken after discussion with all involving parties- selectors, coaches and the board."
Minhazul also said the new T20 consultant Sriram Sridhar set a plan for the future for the Bangladesh team and that has no space for Mahmudullah.
Mahmudullah has been going through a bad patch for a while now. The allrounder failed to impress in the Asia Cup. Before that, he failed to do well in Zimbabwe and West Indies tours as well.
Bangladesh will miss the service of the seniors like Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal as both have retired from the format recently.
With being overlooked from the T20 squad, Mahmudullah's T20 career is unofficially ended.
"Everyone has a chance to play for Bangladesh," Habibul Bashar, the former captain and current selector said. But it's clear Mahmudullah's career in the shortest format of the game is ended.
Sabbir Rahman, the top-order batter, has been added to the team, but Soumya Sarkar, who was in discussion has been overlooked. Bangladesh, however, added Najmul Hossain Shanto, who has no impressive performance in the format, has been added to the team.
"Najmul has been added to the squad after discussion with the captain, and coaching staff," Minhajul said.
Ahead of the World Cup, Bangladesh will take part in a tri-series T20 in New Zealand which also involves Pakistan.
The tri-series will begin on October 07 at Christchurch.
Najmul returns after he was left out of contention during the Asia Cup campaign while Liton Das, Nurul Hasan and Yasir Ali have recovered from injury.
The World Cup gets underway in Australia on October 16.
The squad named Wednesday will travel to New Zealand beforehand to take part in next month's tri-nation tournament alongside Pakistan.
Bangladesh will play five matches in the Super 12s round of the World Cup in Group 2. They will have India, Pakistan, South Africa and two teams from the T20 World Cup qualifiers.
The Tigers will take the field in their first match on October 24 while their other matches are on October 27, 30, and on November 02 and 06.
The top two teams from each group of the Super 12s round will qualify for the semifinals which will be played on November 09 and 10. The final of the World Cup will be played on November 13 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.