Following a disappointing end to the Asia Cup, Bangladesh’s World Cup preparations have been marked by constant adjustments.

The return of Mahmudullah Riyad for the ODI series against New Zealand, the Tigers’ final assignment before the World Cup, has prompted scrutiny of the team management’s initial plans. Riyad had been dropped following his lackluster performance with the bat and questions about his fielding ability.

Despite a notable innings of 77 off 96 balls in the second ODI against India last year, his inconsistent contributions led to his omission from several series, including the Asia Cup, a crucial part of the World Cup preparation.

Afif Hossain, who faced a similar fate after the England series, briefly reclaimed his spot during the Afghanistan series but was dropped again after the Asia Cup. Both Riyad and Afif seemed to compete for the same role, making the decision to reinstate Riyad just before the World Cup perplexing.

The team’s mantra of playing fearless cricket and backing players appeared at odds with Afif’s quick exclusion after a couple of subpar performances in the Asia Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cited rest and the need to explore alternative options as the reasons for their selection choices.

Riyad and Soumya Sarkar have a significant opportunity in the New Zealand series, as the board debates the balance between youth and experience in the squad. Despite earlier skepticism, their strong performances could earn them World Cup spots.