Mahmudullah Retires from T20Is, Citing Focus on ODIs
Veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad has announced his retirement from Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), effective after the third and final match of the ongoing series against India. The 38-year-old made the announcement at a pre-match press conference ahead of the second T20I in Delhi.
Mahmudullah, who made his international debut in 2007, has been a mainstay in Bangladesh’s T20I setup for over a decade. He has played 139 T20Is, scoring 2,213 runs at an average of 22.13 and taking 92 wickets with his off-spin bowling. He has also captained Bangladesh in 35 T20Is.
“Yes, I’m retiring from T20Is after the last game of this series. It was pre-decided,” Mahmudullah said. “It’s the right time to move on from this format and concentrate on ODI.”
Mahmudullah’s decision to retire from T20Is comes as no surprise, as he has been struggling for form in recent times. He has not scored a half-century in his last 10 T20I innings and has taken only two wickets in his last five matches.
However, Mahmudullah remains a key player for Bangladesh in ODIs. He has played 232 ODIs, scoring 4,876 runs at an average of 33.14 and taking 153 wickets. He is also Bangladesh’s most successful ODI captain, having led the team to 43 victories in 73 matches.
Mahmudullah’s retirement from T20Is will be a significant loss for Bangladesh, but it will also allow him to focus on his ODI career and help Bangladesh qualify for the 2023 World Cup.
