Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad has decided to retire from Twenty20 International cricket after the side’s ongoing three-match series against India. The third T20 match against India in Hyderabad will be his last game in this format, he said. “I will retire from the T20 International cricket after this series,” Mahmudullah told the reporters in Delhi where Bangladesh will face off India in the second match on Wednesday (Oct 9).
The Tigers lost the first match by seven wickets with Mahmudullah making just 1 before being unsettled by express pace of fast bowler Mayank Yadav.
“I have taken this decision before the series. I spoke to my family and the BCB high ups in this regard. I believe it is the right time to move on and try to focus on the ODIs only,” he said.
Mahmudullah had earlier retired from the Test format in 2021 after a match against Zimbabwe. He expected that the youngsters will carve their niche in this format as Bangladesh are focused to build a team for the 2026 World Cup.
“In team’s perspective also, I think, it’s high time to move on from this format. Bangladesh are trying to build a team for the 2026 T20 World Cup. There is lot of talented youngsters who has the ability to cement their place,” said the 38-year old all-rounder.
Mahmudullah who made his debut in the format in 2007 against Kenya has the third longest T20I career, after his teammate Shakib Al-Hasan and Zimbabwe's Sean Williams.
His departure in this format ended an era of Bangladesh’s big Five – consisting of Mahmudullah himself, Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal – popularly known as ‘Fab Five’.
Shakib announced his retirement from T20 cricket with immediate effect ahead of second Test in Kanpur albeit he said he can come out of retirement if the team needs him.
Mahmudullah said he would like to concentrate on ODIs after a successful World Cup last year at a personal level. Reflecting on his career, Mahmudullah listed the 2016 T20 World Cup defeat to India as the most frustrating moment and termed the Nidahas Trophy in 2018 as his most favourite moment.
In 2016 T20, Bangladesh needed just two runs in three balls to win against India but Mahmudullah threw away his wicket, trying to play a glory shot. But two years later, he hammered 43 off 18 to help Bangladesh pip hosts Sri Lanka and took the side to the final. Eventually, Bangladesh lost the final to India. Mahmudullah had a strike-rate of 157.38 during the competition.
"A defeat to India during 2016 World Cup in Bengaluru was the most frustrating moment in my life. We were very close to win against India on Indian soil,” he remarked. “I was in shock for many years. It was a life-changing moment for me, and taught me a lot. And obviously the best moment came in the Nidahas Trophy," he added.
Mahmudullah has scored 2,395 runs at a strike-rate of 117.74 and 40 wickets in 139 T20Is games played. He was going through a patchy form of late as he hit just two half-centuries in 18 matches in 2024. He couldn’t make more than 25 runs in his last 10 innings.
Critics raised their voice high against Mahmudullah after he failed to make an impact in the last T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.
