Bangladesh cricket legend announces retirement

Veteran Bangladesh batter Mahmudullah announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday. "I have decided to retire from international cricket," the 39-year-old, who retired from Tests in 2021 and T20Is in 2024, wrote in a social media post.

Mahmudullah ends as Bangladesh's fourth-highest ODI run-getter with 5689 runs at 36.46, including four centuries, in ICC tournaments. He scored back-to-back centuries in the 2015 World Cup, another in the 2017 Champions Trophy against New Zealand, and a fourth in the 2023 ODI World Cup against South Africa.

I would like to thank all of my teammates, coaches & especially my fans who have always supported me," added his Facebook post. "A big thank you to my parents, my laws especially my father in law & most importantly my brother Emdad Ullah who has been there for me constantly since my childhood as my coach & mentor," signed off Mahmudullah, who played 239 ODIs, 50 Tests and 141 T20Is in his 17-year career.
Making his ODI debut in 2007, Mahmudullah initially played as a lower-order all-rounder. A turning point came in the 2011 World Cup when he guided Bangladesh to a famous win over England.

He later became a key middle-order batter, producing memorable knocks, including his historic 223-run stand with Shakib Al Hasan against New Zealand in the 2017 Champions Trophy. Mahmudullah's retirement marks the end of Bangladesh's golden generation, which included Tamim Iqbal, Shakib-Al-Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mashrafe Mortaza. He is Bangladesh's only batter to score three ODI World Cup centuries