New Delhi, Oct 8: Veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah announced his retirement from T20 Internationals on Tuesday, revealing that the third and final match of the ongoing series against India will mark his last appearance in the format.
He stated that it is the "right moment to move on from the format" for both himself and the team.
"Yes, I'm retiring from T20Is after the last game of this series," he said at the pre-match press conference ahead of the second T20I against India, confirming the speculations.
The 38-year-old, who retired from Test cricket in 2021, stated that he wishes to concentrate on the 50-over format, adding that he had communicated his decision to the relevant parties prior to the series.
"It was pre-decided. Before coming here, I had a chat with my family, coach and captain here, selectors. I conveyed to the board president as well.
"I think it is the right time to move on from this format and try to focus on the one day games coming ahead. Going forward, it is the right time for me and the team as well, looking at the next World Cup."
The third and final match of the ongoing series will be played in Hyderabad on Saturday.
Bangladesh's next 50 over assignments include series against Afghanistan and West Indies this year before the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Mahmudullah, who debuted in 2007, revealed that he altered his batting approach in 2016 when he was assigned the role of finisher.
"Before 2016, my average and strike rate in the T20 format wasn't that great in the format but before before coming here for the T20 World Cup in 2016, we had a practice camp and from thereon, I tried to change my batting approach because I had to bat at number 6 or 7."
"And I thought if I had to bat here I need to change my approach. I tried to play the finisher's role from then on."
The former Bangladesh T20 captain scored 2395 runs in 139 T20I for Bangladesh while picking 40 wickets.
"It (number 7 or 8) is a very tricky place to bat, sometimes you have to finish the game but you won't be able to.
"But people will highlight the matches that you will be able to finish rather the ones you have. But it is part and parcel of the game," he stated.
Mahmudullah's is the second high-profile retirement for Bangladesh in the ongoing tour of India, an unprecedented occurrence in an away series. Another veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan had also drawn curtains on his T20 career ahead of the second Test in Kanpur and series against South Africa will be his last in Tests. Like Mahmudullah, he will also play the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
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Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
