If I think about retiring in Bangladesh, it will be too late: Mahmudullah Riyad

In a press conference in Delhi today, Mahmudullah Riyad officially announced his retirement from international T20 cricket. His batting form has been under scrutiny since the last T20 World Cup, and after failing to score more than 1 run in the first match of the ongoing series against India, criticism intensified. In this context, he has decided to step down, meaning fans will not see the most experienced player in Bangladesh’s squad in the 20-over format after the remaining two matches of the series.

If all goes as planned, Mahmudullah will play his final T20 match in Hyderabad on October 12. He cited the need to give new players opportunities ahead of the next World Cup as his reason for retiring. He formally announced his decision before the second match of the series, stating, “I want to step aside to provide opportunities for new players ahead of the 2026 World Cup.”

When asked why he didn’t choose to retire in front of his home crowd, he simply replied, “If I think about retiring in Bangladesh, it will be too late. It wouldn’t be a good decision for me or the team. I felt this was the best time. I believe it was the right decision.”

Reflecting on his career, Mahmudullah expressed no regrets, stating, “I have no regrets. At no point during my time playing for Bangladesh have I felt any regret. I always wanted to be a team player, regardless of the position I played. I was committed to fulfilling my responsibilities. I have no regrets.”

Mahmudullah has played a record 139 T20 matches for Bangladesh. If he features in the next two matches of the series, his total will rise to 141. He has scored 2,395 runs at an average of 23.48 and a strike rate of 117.74, including 8 half-centuries.