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Sports reporter //

He retired from Test cricket earlier, in July 2021. The much talked about retirement. No official announcement has been made, but what everyone had to guess was seeing Mahmudullah given a guard of honor by his teammates midway through the Test in Harare. After that, Mahmudullah did not say anything for a long time. A mystery was born with that retirement.

Mahmudullah did not resort to any drama to retire from T20. Officially announced his departure. Bangladesh will play the second T20 match of the series against India tomorrow. Earlier today in a press conference at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, Mahmudullah said that he will retire from international T20 after the end of this three-match series.

However, this experienced cricketer is not leaving international cricket now. He wants to play ODI for the country.

If Mahmudullah plays in the remaining two matches of the series against India, it will be Mahmudullah’s last T20 match for Bangladesh on October 12. It was the third and last match of the series at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad that day.

39 Chui Chui Mahmudullah had left the decision with Mahmudullah before the start of this series. What he told BCB after the first match. The BCBO has welcomed the decision to leave the field.

In the press conference, Mahmudullah said, ‘I will retire from T20 after the last match of this series. In fact, I decided this before I came on this tour. I talked to my family. I also informed my coach, captain, selectors and board president about the decision. I think it is the right time to move away from this edition and focus on what lies ahead in ODIs. For me and if I think about the next (T20) World Cup, this is the right time for the team as well.’

Mahmudullah made his T20 debut against Kenya in Nairobi in September 2007. Has played a maximum of 139 T20s for Bangladesh so far. Scored 2395 runs at a strike rate of 117.74, averaging 23.48. If he plays the remaining two matches, his T20 career will end with 141 matches played. Only two have the record of playing more matches.

He also holds the record of leading Bangladesh in most matches. Between 2018 and 2022, Mahmudullah went to toss for Bangladesh in 43 T20Is. He also led Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in 2021. Mahmudullah has the most wins as the captain of Bangladesh. But there is a sharer of this record. Shakib Al Hasan also got 16 wins equal to him.

In the last five-six years of his career, he played in the T20 team of Bangladesh as a finisher. The name that proved its worth the most in the Nidahas Trophy held in Sri Lanka in 2018. Must win to reach the final, Mahmudullah’s 18-ball unbeaten innings of 43 gave Bangladesh a memorable victory in such a nerve-racking match against Sri Lanka. 12 runs are needed in the last four balls – Mahmudullah finished the game in the next three balls in such a situation. 4 and 2 runs in the first two balls, a six in the next ball! This has to be the most memorable innings of Mahmudullah’s T20 career.

Maybe the unbeaten 16 against Sri Lanka in the last T20 World Cup will be close. The number of runs fails to convey the glory of that innings. Bangladesh lost 2 wickets in a row in the 18th over and lost 8 wickets. It takes 11 runs in the last two overs. In the 19th over, Mahmudullah hit Shanaka’s first ball for a six, ending the match in that over. The victory played a big role in Bangladesh’s promotion to the Super Eight.

Talking about Mahmudullah of T20, these two innings may be remembered more. There is scope to add more. If he plays the remaining two matches of the series against India, Mahmudullah will come down to bat with the promise of making the last one memorable.