Dubai: All eyes will be on Bangladesh’s star batsman Mohammad Mahmudullah during the 18th Unimoni Asia Cup. He has the honour of being the first Bangladeshi to score a century in the ICC Cricket World Cup and has recently won many matches against formidable teams through his sterling performances. Mahmudullah is keen to produce a good show and guide Bangladesh to their first Asia Cup title triumph.
Speaking to Gulf News after training at the ICC Academy, he said: “We have been the finalists in 2014 and 2016 Asia Cup. We will carry the confidence from our performance from the recent Asia Cups into this tournament. Having said that, as all the teams are preparing so well that we have to be at our best from our first game.”
- Mohammad Mahmudullah
It was Mahmudullah’s knock of 103 against England in the 2015 World Cup at Adelaide that gave Bangladesh a stunning 15-run victory. When asked about his ability to play match-winnings knocks, he said: “I am trying to keep things better for me individually and try and improve my game day by day.”
Mahmudullah excels as an off spinner and has bagged 70 wickets from his 156 ODIs and has 40 wickets from 39 Tests to prove he is an effective all-rounder. When asked about how much importance he gives to being an all-rounder, he said: “I prefer to be a batting all-rounder. In fact, I prefer my batting first then comes my bowling. I always try and maintain both my skills because it is beneficial for a team like ours to win matches. I know I have to contribute with the bat and ball as well especially with some very talented players coming up.”
It is against Sri Lanka, whom Bangladesh play in the first match of the Asia Cup on September 15, that he made his ODI debut.
His ability to score fast gave him the label of a limited-overs specialist. So how will it feel to play against the country he made his debut against in the first match in Dubai? “We have some good past memories from few months back against Sri Lanka,” he said. “I feel Sri Lanka is a very good team and they are playing very good cricket at the moment, so we have to be at our best to beat them.”
Interestingly, it is as a bowler that Mahmudullah sparkled in his Test debut match. He produced a three-wicket spell in the first innings and a five-wicket haul in the second innings to return with an eight wicket haul to ensure Bangladesh a 95-runs win over West Indies at Kingstown in 2009.
Mahmudullah enjoys playing the match winner. “It always feel good to contribute for the team. If the team is winning through my contribution it is even better,” he added. “I like to keep things simple and contribute for the team as much as I can.”
Mahmudullah wants Bangladesh fans in the UAE to come out in large numbers and cheer for his team. “Hopefully we well get a big crowd as plenty of Bangladeshis live here. So hopefully they will come and support us and we are going to deliver some good results for them.”
“It’s an honour to be compared with Laxman”
Dubai: Mohammad Mahmudullah’s flowing drives through the covers, especially against pacers, are a treat to watch. His mastery to play those shots won him comparison with India’s legendary batsman VVS Laxman.
When Gulf News asked Mahmudullah on how it is to be compared with Laxman, he said: “It’s a great honour. Laxman has been a great ambassador for his country. He was a very good batsman for India during his playing time, so it is good be compared to him.”
Laxman retired in 2012 after scoring 8,781 runs from 134 Tests and 2,338 runs from 86 ODIs. Mahmudullah has scored 3,437 runs from 156 one-day matches and 2,084 runs from 39 Tests.
