Dhaka, Jan. 5 -- "I'm celebrating my exclusion with sweets," Mashrafe quipped when asked for his reaction.

He said he was deeply disappointed for not being able to play in the 2011 Cricket World Cup that Bangladesh had co-hosted.

Back then, he was left out over injuries. With no fitness issues facing him this time around, he says he has an idea of how bitter the exclusion tastes.

His inconsistency during the Tigers' run in the 2019 showcase event in England put the Narail Express in a tight spot. Opting out of the board's central contract and saying goodbye to cricket by relinquishing captaincy ahead of the Zimbabwe series last March were all part of his efforts to be included in the team.

Then the break forced by the pandemic came as...