BCB Hosts Workshop to Groom Former Cricketers as Match Referees; Mahmudullah Declines Invitation

In a bid to groom former international cricketers as match referees, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has launched a special two-day training and workshop, which began on Saturday. A group of former national team players was invited to attend the program, though recently retired star Mahmudullah Riyad declined the invitation.

Despite direct communication from BCB’s umpires department, Mahmudullah reportedly expressed his current focus on domestic cricket, choosing not to participate in the workshop at this stage.

The program saw participation from notable former cricketers such as Habibul Bashar, Abdur Razzak, Dhiman Ghosh, Fazle Mahmud, Naeem Islam, and Elias Sunny, among others. In total, around 30 first-class cricketers interested in becoming match referees took part in the initiative.

A Step Towards Post-Retirement Roles for Players

BCB has been planning for some time to provide post-retirement pathways for ex-players in administrative and officiating roles. This workshop is part of that long-term vision.

• Habibul Bashar, a former national selector, is currently working in BCB’s Women’s Wing under the Game Development department.

• Abdur Razzak still serves as a member of the men’s national selection panel.

Mahmudullah’s Future Role Still on the Table

Mahmudullah, who officially retired from international cricket after the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, has represented Bangladesh in 50 Tests, 239 ODIs, and 141 T20Is, leading the team across all three formats. Though he skipped the match referee workshop, sources within the board suggest that efforts to involve him in BCB’s future plans will continue.