According to social media, Mahmudullah Riyad is scheduled to retire from Test cricket after the conclusion of Bangladesh’s present one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Harare.
Rumors began to circulate on several news websites that Mahmudullah had conveyed his desire to retire to his teammates in the dressing room after the third day of Bangladesh’s current Test on Friday.
However, according to the Bangla news daily Prothom Alo, Mahmudullah told the Bangladesh Cricket Board in writing of his decision to continue playing in all formats for the foreseeable future before departing for the Zimbabwe tour.
“We received written requests from everyone about who wants to play in which format. We completed the task four or five days before they went for Zimbabwe. Riyad stated that he wishes to compete in all three forms. He stated that if given the opportunity, he would like to play Tests, which is why he was named to the [Test] squad “According to the report, BCB president Nazmul Hassan said.
Mahumudullah, on the other hand, made no mention of his ‘planned retirement’ when he talked to the media via video message following the conclusion of the third day of play in their ongoing Test in Harare.
On the second day of the Harare Test, Mahmudullah hit an unbeaten 150, his career-best Test total, making a powerful statement on his return to the Test squad after a 17-month forced exile.
Mahmudullah was added at the last minute to the Tigers’ previously declared 17-man Test team for the Zimbabwe tour. The 35-year-old right-hander was withdrawn from the Test squad in February 2020 owing to ‘poor performance,’ and was only added to the Test squad for the Zimbabwe tour to provide experience if senior players like Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim are unable to play due to injuries.
While Mushfiqur recovered quickly from his hand injury, Tamim was unable to participate due to a knee ailment, and Mahmudullah was recalled to the starting eleven.
The Daily Star’s Report
