Mahmudullah announces retirement from Test cricket
Mahmudullah has officially ended his 12-year long Test career
Minhaz Uddin Khan
Publish : 25 Nov 2021, 07:41 AMUpdate : 28 Dec 2021, 05:29 PM
Mahmudullah’s retirement from Test cricket has finally been announced.
Though the news of the all-rounder quitting longer version of the game got revealed during Bangladesh’s tour of Zimbabwe in July this year, an official confirmation has come on the cricketer’s decision from Bangladesh Cricket Board Wednesday evening.
With the announcement from the BCB media wing, Mahmudullah has officially ended his 12-year long Test career.
It is understood that Mahmudullah was waiting for an official clearance from the BCB on the retirement, particularly from president Nazmul Hasan, which has now been granted.
The 35-year old played his 50th and last Test against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club in July this year with Bangladesh recording a 220-run win.
In his final innings, the right-hand middle-order batsman made an unbeaten 150, his fifth hundred in Tests, and was adjudged player of the match.
Mahmudullah scored 2,914 runs at an average of 33.49, and also took 43 wickets, in Tests.
He has also captained Bangladesh in six Test matches.
“Leaving a format of which I have been a part of for such a long time is not easy. I had always thought of going on a high and I believe this is the right time to end my Test career,” said Mahmudullah in the BCB media release Wednesday.
“I want to extend my gratitude to the BCB president for supporting me when I returned to the Test team. I thank my teammates and the support staff for always encouraging me and believing in my ability. It has been an absolute honor and privilege to play Test cricket for Bangladesh and I will cherish the many memories. Although I am retiring from Tests, I will still be playing ODIs and T20Is and really looking forward to continue giving my best for my country in white-ball cricket,” said Mahmudullah, who is the current Bangladesh T20I captain.
Mahmudullah caused a stir in the cricketing fraternity of the country after his intention to quit Test cricket following the Harare game was leaked in the media during the tour of Zimbabwe.
The 35-year old had made the revelation to the team following day three’s play of the Test.
The decision from Mahmudullah came as a shock given that he had just returned to the format all guns blazing.
Mahmudullah got dropped from Bangladesh Test fold due to below par performance, but scripted a fiery return after around 17 months, scoring an unbeaten 150.
There were wide discussions that Mahmudullah’s decision was driven by emotion for having been overlooked in the format by the selection panel.
Mahmudullah while making the revelation to the team members mentioned that he wanted to show that he is "fit to play Test" and that has been done through the unbeaten 150 he had scored in the game.
Mahmudullah before the Zimbabwe Test, played his last five-dayer in January 2020, against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, and was subsequently left out of the series against Zimbabwe last year and against the West Indies and Sri Lanka this year.
He was also among a handful of cricketers to be given a white-ball-only central contract in 2020.
The Bangladesh selection panel included Mahmudullah, three days after declaration of the initial team for the Zimbabwe game, as back-up for the injured opener Tamim Iqbal and middle order batsman Mushfiqur Rahim.
Bangladesh are currently putting the final touches to their Test preparation ahead of the two-match home series against Pakistan.
The first Test is scheduled to begin Friday in Chittagong's Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
Mahmudullah announces retirement from Test cricket
Mahmudullah’s retirement from Test cricket has finally been announced.
Though the news of the all-rounder quitting longer version of the game got revealed during Bangladesh’s tour of Zimbabwe in July this year, an official confirmation has come on the cricketer’s decision from Bangladesh Cricket Board Wednesday evening.
With the announcement from the BCB media wing, Mahmudullah has officially ended his 12-year long Test career.
It is understood that Mahmudullah was waiting for an official clearance from the BCB on the retirement, particularly from president Nazmul Hasan, which has now been granted.
The 35-year old played his 50th and last Test against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club in July this year with Bangladesh recording a 220-run win.
In his final innings, the right-hand middle-order batsman made an unbeaten 150, his fifth hundred in Tests, and was adjudged player of the match.
Mahmudullah scored 2,914 runs at an average of 33.49, and also took 43 wickets, in Tests.
He has also captained Bangladesh in six Test matches.
“Leaving a format of which I have been a part of for such a long time is not easy. I had always thought of going on a high and I believe this is the right time to end my Test career,” said Mahmudullah in the BCB media release Wednesday.
“I want to extend my gratitude to the BCB president for supporting me when I returned to the Test team. I thank my teammates and the support staff for always encouraging me and believing in my ability. It has been an absolute honor and privilege to play Test cricket for Bangladesh and I will cherish the many memories. Although I am retiring from Tests, I will still be playing ODIs and T20Is and really looking forward to continue giving my best for my country in white-ball cricket,” said Mahmudullah, who is the current Bangladesh T20I captain.
Mahmudullah caused a stir in the cricketing fraternity of the country after his intention to quit Test cricket following the Harare game was leaked in the media during the tour of Zimbabwe.
The 35-year old had made the revelation to the team following day three’s play of the Test.
The decision from Mahmudullah came as a shock given that he had just returned to the format all guns blazing.
Mahmudullah got dropped from Bangladesh Test fold due to below par performance, but scripted a fiery return after around 17 months, scoring an unbeaten 150.
There were wide discussions that Mahmudullah’s decision was driven by emotion for having been overlooked in the format by the selection panel.
Mahmudullah while making the revelation to the team members mentioned that he wanted to show that he is "fit to play Test" and that has been done through the unbeaten 150 he had scored in the game.
Mahmudullah before the Zimbabwe Test, played his last five-dayer in January 2020, against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, and was subsequently left out of the series against Zimbabwe last year and against the West Indies and Sri Lanka this year.
He was also among a handful of cricketers to be given a white-ball-only central contract in 2020.
The Bangladesh selection panel included Mahmudullah, three days after declaration of the initial team for the Zimbabwe game, as back-up for the injured opener Tamim Iqbal and middle order batsman Mushfiqur Rahim.
Bangladesh are currently putting the final touches to their Test preparation ahead of the two-match home series against Pakistan.
The first Test is scheduled to begin Friday in Chittagong's Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
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