Mahmudullah Announces Retirement from International Cricket; End of Bangladesh's 'Big 5' Era in ODIs
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Former Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah has announced his retirement from international cricket. The 39-year-old shared this news through a statement on his Facebook page on Wednesday. His final appearance for Bangladesh took place against New Zealand on February 24 in Rawalpindi during the 2025 Champions Trophy. Previously, he had retired from Test cricket in 2021 and from T20 internationals in 2024.
Mahmudullah concludes his career as Bangladesh's fourth-highest run-scorer, accumulating 5,689 runs at an average of 36.46, which includes four centuries and 32 half-centuries. In his Facebook post, he expressed gratitude, stating, "All praises only for the Almighty Allah. I have decided to retire from international cricket."
He extended his thanks to his teammates, coaches, and especially his fans for their unwavering support. He also expressed deep appreciation for his parents, in-laws, particularly his father-in-law, and his brother Emdad Ullah, who has been a constant source of guidance and mentorship since his childhood.
Additionally, he acknowledged his wife and children for being his steadfast support throughout his journey. He noted that his son Raeid would miss seeing him in the national colors. "Not everything concludes perfectly, but one must accept and move forward. Peace, Alhamdulillah. Best wishes to my team and to Bangladesh cricket," he added.
Mahmudullah's international career began and concluded with an ODI match; he made his debut against Sri Lanka on July 25, 2007. He played his first T20I against Kenya on September 1 of the same year, and his inaugural Test match was against the West Indies starting on July 9, 2009. His retirement follows closely after that of his longtime teammate Mushfiqur, who recently stepped away from ODIs after previously retiring from T20s post the 2022 T20 World Cup, while still remaining active in Test cricket.
End of Bangladesh's Big 5 era
Mahmudullah's retirement marks the conclusion of an era for a group of five prominent Bangladeshi cricketers, often referred to as the "Big 5." This group includes Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, and Mashrafe Mortaza, all of whom are recognized as some of the most successful players in the nation's cricketing history. Each of these five individuals has served as captain for Bangladesh in at least one format during their careers, with Mortaza being particularly acknowledged for his significant role in elevating the team's performance in limited-overs cricket.
Mortaza last participated in One Day Internationals (ODIs) in 2020, the same year he stepped down from the captaincy. Earlier this year, Tamim reaffirmed his decision to retire from international cricket. Shakib announced his retirement from Test and T20I formats in India last year, indicating that the Champions Trophy would be his final ODI appearance. However, after missing the tournament for various reasons, it now appears that his ODI career has also come to an end.
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