BD all-rounder Mahmudullah to retire from T20s

He has had an illustrious T20I career, having made his debut back in 2007.

Bangladesh's long-serving all-rounder, Mahmudullah, has officially announced his retirement from T20 Internationals following the upcoming three-match series against India. At 38 years old, Mahmudullah has had an illustrious T20I career, having made his debut back in 2007 against Kenya. His 17-year and 35-day tenure in the format ranks as the third longest in T20I history, trailing only behind his teammate Shakib Al Hasan and Zimbabwe's Sean Williams.

Although Mahmudullah retired from Test cricket in 2021, he will continue to represent Bangladesh in One Day Internationals (ODIs). He recently showcased his skills during the 2023 Men's World Cup in India, where he emerged as the leading run-scorer for Bangladesh, amassing 328 runs.

His retirement announcement comes shortly after Shakib Al Hasan declared his own T20I retirement during the second Test match in Kanpur. Mahmudullah expressed that he had contemplated his decision before the series against India, stating his desire to focus on ODIs moving forward, especially with an upcoming three-match ODI series in the West Indies set for December and the Champions Trophy scheduled for 2025.

"I was pre-decided about retirement before coming to this series," Mahmudullah revealed. "I had a chat with the captain and the coach and informed the BCB president. It's the right time to move on from this format and try to focus on the ODIs."

Reflecting on his extensive career, Mahmudullah described the 2016 T20 World Cup defeat to India as the most frustrating moment, while the Nidahas Trophy victory in 2018 stands out as his favorite memory. In that tournament, he played a crucial role, scoring 43 runs off just 18 balls to help Bangladesh secure a spot in the final, although they ultimately fell short in the title match.

"The most frustrating moment was the loss to India in the 2016 World Cup in Bengaluru. It was a life-changing moment for me and taught me a lot. The best moment came in the Nidahas Trophy," he stated.

Over his T20I career, Mahmudullah has accumulated 2,395 runs at a strike rate of 117.74, along with 40 wickets in 139 matches.

Atherton criticizes low crowd turnout at Multan

Former England cricketer Mike Atherton has expressed disappointment over the sparse crowd attendance at the ongoing Test series opener between Pakistan and the Three Lions.

During commentary, Atherton remarked that there seemed to be more security personnel at the stadium than spectators.

"There are probably more security staff at the stadium than people in the crowd," Atherton said. Pakistan's performance in the longer format has been particularly noteworthy, especially considering their recent challenges, including a winless streak that has spanned over two years. The team's strong showing in Multan offers hope for a successful series against England.