Mahmudullah has announced his retirement from ODIs, the only format he was still active in, through a social media post. The 39-year-old, who had previously retired from Tests in 2021 and T20Is in 2024, confirmed his decision on Facebook, expressing gratitude to his teammates, coaches, fans, and family.
He ends his ODI career as Bangladesh’s fourth-highest run-getter, amassing 5689 runs at an average of 36.46, with four centuries and 32 fifties. His retirement follows Mushfiqur Rahim’s, his brother-in-law, who also stepped away from ODIs recently. Mahmudullah’s decision was expected after the BCB revealed that he had requested not to be considered for a central contract beyond February 2025.
Known for delivering on big stages, all of Mahmudullah’s ODI hundreds came in ICC tournaments. He scored two centuries in the 2015 World Cup, followed by a match-winning 102* against New Zealand in the 2017 Champions Trophy. His last century, 111 against South Africa, came in the 2023 World Cup.
His retirement comes after Bangladesh’s early exit from the 2025 Champions Trophy, where he played just one innings, scoring 4 off 14 balls. Despite that, he had been in good form before the tournament, scoring four consecutive fifties against Afghanistan and West Indies.
Debuting in 2007, Mahmudullah initially played as a lower-order batter and off-spinner. His rise began in the 2011 World Cup, where his crucial partnership with Shafiul Islam helped Bangladesh stun England. Over the years, he became a key middle-order batter and reliable bowler, finishing with 82 ODI wickets.
His retirement marks the end of Bangladesh’s golden generation, following the exits of Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, and Mashrafe Mortaza.
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