Mahmudullah’s T20I Retirement: Bangladesh’s Cricket Star

Mahmudullah Announces T20I Retirement, to Hang Up Boots After India Series

Bangladesh’s all-rounder Mahmudullah has announced that he will retire from T20 Internationals (T20Is) following the three-match series against India. The 38-year-old Mahmudullah, one of Bangladesh’s most distinguished players, will bring an end to a remarkable T20I career spanning over 17 years.

Mahmudullah’s retirement follows Shakib’s announcement of his immediate exit from T20Is during the second Test in Kanpur. Mahmudullah revealed that he decided to retire after the India series, intending to focus on ODIs, especially after a personally successful World Cup last year. He aims to prepare for the upcoming three-match ODI series in the West Indies this December and the 2025 Champions Trophy.

“I was pre-decided [about retirement] before coming to this series, had a chat with the captain and the coach, and informed the BCB president. It’s the right time to move on from this format and try to focus on the ODIs,” Mahmudullah said.

Reflecting on his career, Mahmudullah described the loss to India in the 2016 T20 World Cup as his most frustrating moment, while his favorite memory was winning the Nidahas Trophy semifinal in 2018. In that game, he scored a crucial 43 off 18 balls, leading Bangladesh to a thrilling victory over hosts Sri Lanka, though they later lost the final. Mahmudullah ended the tournament with an impressive strike rate of 157.38. “The most frustrating moment was the loss to India in the 2016 World Cup in Bengaluru. It was a life-changing moment for me and taught me a lot. The best moment came in the Nidahas Trophy,” he stated.

Mahmudullah made his T20I debut back in 2007 against Kenya, and since then, he has become an integral part of Bangladesh’s cricketing journey. His career in the shortest format is the third-longest in T20I history, behind only his teammate Shakib Al Hasan and Zimbabwe’s Sean Williams. Across 139 T20Is, Mahmudullah has amassed 2,395 runs at a strike rate of 117.74 and has also contributed with the ball, taking 40 wickets.