Riyad’s farewell from T20Is in New Zealand?

According to sources in the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), the board might consider giving farewell to stalwart Mahmudullah Riyad from the T20 format in one of the matches during Bangladesh's tri-nation T20I series in New Zealand next month.

As a prelude to the upcoming T20 World Cup, set to begin from October 16 in Australia, Bangladesh are scheduled to play a tri-nation series involving hosts New Zealand and Pakistan from October 7.

Bangladesh might not include Mahmudullah, who led the Tigers in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup last year, when they announce the squad for the upcoming marquee T20 event at the BCB headquarters today.

However, as a gesture of respect for Mahmudullah's service to the national team, he could get a game during the tri-nation series to say goodbye to the format, if the cricketer agrees to call time from the format. That's what BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon also indicated yesterday.

"If he wants [to retire], then yes, [we are willing to say goodbye to him from the field]. If we can't include him in the squad [for the World Cup] then I think, he deserves to say goodbye from the field. We must show him this much respect. As he won us many games, we can not overlook his contribution," Hassan told the media on Tuesday.

"It also hurts us that Mushfiqur [Rahim] retired. I think we would give the players the respect they deserve if they give us the opportunity to give them farewell from the field instead of announcing it on their own," Hassan added.

It was later learned that Mahmudullah declined the board's offer to bid adieu to T20Is during the tri-nation series in New Zealand. 

As per sources in the BCB, the cricketer will remain available for T20Is even though he has fallen out of the team management and selectors' favour in the format due to his lean patch.