Mahmudullah Makes Shock Decision To Retire From Test Cricket

In a sudden and shocking decision, Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah has decided that he will be retiring from Test cricket post the ongoing one-off Test against Zimbabwe. According to ESPNcricinfo, Mahmudullah made the announcement to his teammates after the end of the third day’s play in Harare, where he shared a 191-run ninth-wicket partnership with tailender Taskin Ahmed, and hit his career-best 150* propelling the visitors in a match-winning position.

It is expected he will announce it officially, perhaps on his social media handles and to the board, soon following the Test match.

The ongoing Test marks his 50th in the longest format; he is also making a return to Test cricket after a year – he did celebrate it by scoring his fifth Test century, but now seems sure of calling it quits on his Test career.

Such an announcement will have a negative impact on the team: BCB president

Nazmul Hassan, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President, is utterly miffed with this decision of Mahmudullah, in particularly announcing it mid-match; he reckons such news “will have a negative impact” on the players.

Hassan is also surprised by Mahmudullah’s decision as, the President reveals, the all-rounder had earlier expressed a strong desire to play more Test cricket.

“I have not been informed officially but someone called me on the phone and said he doesn’t want to play Tests anymore,” Hassan told the Bengali daily Prothom Alo.

“Apparently, he told the dressing room. I think it is highly unusual, since the match isn’t even over. I think he did it from emotion. Such an announcement will have a negative impact on the team. It is unacceptable. I have no problem if someone doesn’t want to play, but there is no need to create a mess in the middle of a series.”

“Four or five days before they left for Zimbabwe, we asked all the players to inform us which formats they want to play. Riyad wrote that he wants to play all three formats. Regarding Tests he wrote that he wants to play in the format if given the opportunity, which is why we picked him in Tests.

“I called him to my place twice, where he confirmed me that he wants to play Tests. I find it astounding that he is talking about retirement.”