After Mushfiqur Rahim announced his retirement from ODIs, Mahmudullah has now bid farewell to international cricket.
Just as the dust was settling on Mushfiqur’s departure from ODIs, another exit follows in Bangladesh cricket. Mahmudullah has announced his retirement. He had already stepped away from Tests and T20Is, and now, with ODIs, his international journey comes to an end.
The 39-year-old cricketer shared his decision on social media on Wednesday night.
“All praise is for the Almighty Allah. I have decided to retire from international cricket.”
“I want to thank all my teammates and coaches, and a special thanks to the fans who have always stood by me.”
In his farewell message, Mahmudullah expressed gratitude to his parents and in-laws. He also acknowledged his elder brother, Emdad Ullah, for being his lifelong coach and mentor.
His message included words for his wife and children as well.
“…Lastly, thank you to my wife and children, who have always been my support system through every situation. I know Ra’id (Mahmudullah’s son) will miss seeing me in the red and green jersey.”
Before the Champions Trophy, Mahmudullah was in great form, scoring four consecutive fifties. However, he missed the first match of the tournament due to injury and was dismissed for just four runs in the second match due to a poor shot.
Following the Champions Trophy, speculation arose about the futures of both Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah. The next ODI World Cup is two and a half years away, by which time he would be nearing 42.
It was reported that Mahmudullah had discussions with BCB’s Cricket Operations Chairman, Nazmul Abedeen. During the announcement of this year’s central contracts on Monday, BCB revealed that Mahmudullah himself had requested not to be included. That decision was a clear indication of his future plans, which culminated in this official retirement announcement.
However, his farewell message hinted that this was not the perfect ending he had hoped for.
“Not everything ends perfectly. But you have to say ‘yes’ and move forward. Peace… Alhamdulillah.”
“Best wishes for my team and Bangladesh cricket.”
The format he retired from last was the same format that marked the beginning of his international career. He made his ODI debut on Bangladesh’s tour of Sri Lanka after the 2007 World Cup and became a regular member of the squad in 2008. Mostly batting at six, seven, or eight, he didn’t always get opportunities to play big innings, but he remained a key contributor. Alongside his effective off-spin, he became crucial for the team’s balance.
He first got the opportunity to bat higher in the order in 2011. In a match against Australia in Mirpur, he scored an unbeaten 68 off 61 balls while batting at No. 4. However, he was soon pushed back down the order again. Over time, he became a reliable finisher for Bangladesh.
Ahead of the 2015 World Cup, he was promoted back to No. 4 during a series against Zimbabwe. After performing well, he retained the position in the World Cup, which turned out to be the most memorable period of his career. His unbeaten 103 against England in Adelaide secured Bangladesh’s first-ever World Cup quarter-final spot. In the next match, he scored another century against New Zealand.
Despite these performances, he didn’t stay long in the top order. Once again, he was moved down the order. One of his most iconic innings came in the 2017 Champions Trophy in Cardiff, where he formed a record partnership with Shakib Al Hasan to take Bangladesh to an unforgettable victory against New Zealand, securing their first-ever ICC tournament semi-final appearance.
He remained an integral part of the team for years. However, challenges arose as well. After Bangladesh’s series against England in 2023, he was dropped from the team. But just before the World Cup, he made a comeback. While the team had a disappointing campaign, Mahmudullah was one of the bright spots, scoring 328 runs in seven innings at an average of 54.66, including a century against South Africa.
His performances declined in the following year, and questions arose about his place in the squad. He responded with four consecutive fifties, but this time, his journey wasn’t prolonged.
Mahmudullah ends his career with 239 ODIs, scoring 5,689 runs at an average of 36.46, including four centuries and 32 fifties. He also took 82 wickets with his off-spin.
He retired from Tests in 2021 after playing 50 matches. Last October, he brought an end to his 141-match T20I career on the India tour. Now, by bidding farewell to ODIs, he closes the final chapter of his international career.
