Veteran all-rounder Mahmudullah may be playing his final T20I series in the current matchup against India. Reports indicate that he intends to announce his retirement from the shortest format before the upcoming second T20I against India at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
A Long and Impactful Career
Since making his debut in 2007, Mahmudullah has been a key player for Bangladesh, being one of the longest-serving members of the team. Initially, he planned to retire after the 2024 T20 World Cup but was included in the squad for the three-match series against India. The 38-year-old’s form had suffered significantly after he was left out of the squad for the 2022 T20 World Cup, where he had previously captained the team.
He returned to T20I action ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup, participating in bilateral series against Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and the United States. With Bangladesh shifting towards a new strategy in T20Is, Mahmudullah seems poised to follow in the footsteps of his teammate Shakib Al Hasan, who also stepped away recently.
Insights from the Team
“It’s not a break, he wants to bring an end to the T20I chapter. He is supposed to announce it in this series,” a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official shared with The Daily Star. In the series opener against India in Gwalior, Mahmudullah managed to score just one run from two balls before falling to Mayank Yadav’s first international wicket.
Having retired from Test cricket in 2021, Mahmudullah hinted at ending his international career in 2023. Over his T20I journey, he has played 139 matches, accumulating 2,395 runs with an average of 23.48 and a strike rate of 117.74. He has also contributed with 40 wickets at an average of 27.35 and an economy rate of 7.04.
“Regarding Riyad [Mahmudullah] bhai, from what I understand, this series is very important for him. He might have discussions with the selectors. I am not entirely clear on this, but I believe there will definitely be discussions with the selectors and the board [regarding his future],” said Bangladesh captain Shanto ahead of the first T20I (via Cricbuzz). The second T20I between India and Bangladesh is scheduled for Wednesday, October 9.
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