Bangladesh Cricket Board [BCB] will look for firm options to restrict the cricketers from taking sudden decisions on retirement. The statement has come from BCB president Nazmul Hasan after veteran all-rounder Mahmudullah chose a dramatic way of Test retirement.
Mahmudullah shocked the cricketing fraternity of the country by announcing to quit Test cricket during the game against Zimbabwe in Harare. Mahmudullah had made the announcement during a team meeting on Friday which later got leaked in the media.
The decision from Mahmudullah was a stirrer given he had just returned to the format all guns blazing. Mahmudullah dropped from Bangladesh Test fold due to below par performance, made a fiery return in the format after around 17 months scoring an unbeaten 150 runs to pull Bangladesh out of a batting misery against Zimbabwe in the just concluded Test.
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BCB president speaking to a leading Bangla newspaper said Mahmudullah had messaged him on Saturday night seeking permission for the retirement. The BCB chief chose not to reply the message. And as it happened Mahmudullah made the retirement official after the teammates gave him the guard of honor while entering the field on the final day of the Test against Zimbabwe on Sunday.
“He [Mahmudullah] informed me [on Friday night] that he doesn’t want to play Test and wants to retire following the game against Zimbabawe. I told him why it has to be this way. You first play the ODI and T20I series there, return home and then we can talk about it. If needed you come to the country and then declare and if required we can arrange a Test for your farewell,” said BCB president Nazmul to Prothom Alo on Sunday.
@BCBtigers cricketers stood in line as @Mahmudullah30 walked to the field on the final day of the Harare Test against @ZimCricketv. There however has been no formal announcement from Bangladesh Cricket Board [BCB] or from Mahmudullah on the occasionhttps://t.co/0KQlrS0A2N
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) July 11, 2021
There are wide rumors that Mahmudullah’s decision was driven by emotion for having been overlooked in the format by the selection panel. Mahmudullah while making the revelation to the team members mentioned that he wanted to show that he ‘is fit to play Test’ and that has been done through the 150 runs he has scored in the game. There is a rumor that Mahmudullah doesn’t carry a sound relation with head coach Russell Domingo which the BCB president brushed off.
“This is not right. Coach [Domingo] never told him that he cannot play Test. He was injured for some time and there was discussion of including him ahead of the series against Sri Lanka. Mahmudullah had then said he doesn’t want to play Test,” informed Nazmul.
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To prevent similar decisions on retirement from other cricketers Namzul informed to establish firm policies.
“Similar situation may arise in coming days. There are other senior cricketers who can do such thing, declaring retirement ahead of a game or in between a game. This is why we took in written of the formats they want to play. But still they are making decisions this way and we cannot let this happen again. Let this series [against Zimbabwe] finish. We will take strong steps against this,” said Nazmul.
