Bangladesh Veteran Mahmudullah Retires From International Cricket
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Bangladesh veteran Mahmudullah, 39, retired from ODI cricket, having played 239 ODIs, scoring 5689 runs and taking 82 wickets. He also retired from Tests in 2021 and T20Is in 2024.
Mahmudullah has called time on his international career. (Image: X)
Bangladesh veteran all-rounder Mahmudullah, 39, retired from ODI cricket on Wednesday, completing his time as an international batter. He had already retired from Tests in 2021 and T20Is in 2024.
Mahmudullah played 239 ODIs for Bangladesh, scoring 5689 at an average of 36.46, with a best knock of 128* against New Zealand in the 2015 World Cup. A middle to lower-middle-order batter, he scored four centuries and 32 fifties in the format. Three of the tons came in World Cups, making him the only Bangladeshi with the distinction.
He retires as the country’s fourth-highest run-scorer, to be remembered for his penchant to be the last line of attack for the Tigers. He also picked up 82 ODI wickets with part-time off-spin.
“All praises only for the Almighty Allah,” Mahmudullah wrote on his official Facebook page in the announcement. “I have decided to retire from international cricket. I would like to thank all of my team-mates, coaches and specially my fans who has always supported me. A big thank you to my parents, my in-laws specially my father in law & most importantly my brother Emdad Ullah who has been there for me constantly since my childhood as my coach & mentor,” he said.
“And finally thanks to my wife & kids who have been my support system through thick & thin. I know Raeid will miss me in red and green jersey. Not everything comes to an end in a perfect way but you say yes and move forward. Peace, Alhamdulillah. Best wishes to my team & Bangladesh cricket,” he added.
His retirement seemed impending when the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced that he had decided against being considered for the central contracts. His place in the team had come under scrutiny from the media due to his failures in Bangladesh’s winless 2025 Champions Trophy campaign.
Bangladesh lost to India and New Zealand while their last match, against hosts Pakistan, was washed out due to rain.
Mahmudullah’s retirement comes only a week after another veteran Mushfiqur Rahim, his long-time team-mate and brother-in-law, also called time on his ODI career.
Mahmudullah also played 50 Tests and 141 T20Is for Bangladesh, scoring 2914 and 2444 runs respectively. His last Test was against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2021 while his last T20I was against India in Hyderabad in 2024.