Mahmudullah set to retire from T20I cricket following India series - Reports
Bangladesh veteran all-rounder Mahmudullah could be playing his final T20I series in the ongoing affair against India. According to reports, he plans to announce his retirement from the shortest format ahead of the upcoming second T20I against the Men in Blue at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Mahmudullah, who made his debut in 2007, has been one of the longest-serving players for Bangladesh. He was slated to part ways after the 2024 T20 World Cup but found a place in the squad for the three-match series against India away from home.
The 38-year-old had faced a major dip in his short format stocks after being omitted from the squad for the 2022 T20 World Cup, having led the team in the previous edition a year prior.
He made his T20I return ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup, playing in the bilateral series against Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and the United States of America (USA). With Bangladesh heading towards a new direction in T20Is, Mahmudullah looks to step away as his teammate Shakib Al Hasan did recently.
"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 BCB official told The Daily Star.
Mahmudullah scored only one run off two deliveries in the series opener against India in Gwalior before becoming Mayank Yadav's maiden international wicket.
"I believe there will definitely be discussions with the selectors and the board" - Najmul Hossain Shanto on Mahmudullah's future
Mahmudullah had retired from Test cricket in 2021 and in 2023, he had hinted at ending his international career. He has played 139 T20I matches, scoring 2395 runs at an average of 23.48 and a strike rate of 117.74. The all-rounder has also chipped in with 40 wickets at an average of 27.35 and an economy 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]," Bangladesh captain Shanto had said ahead of the first T20I (via Cricbuzz).
The second T20I between India and Bangladesh is scheduled for Wednesday, October 9.