What do Mushfiq and Mahmudullah say?

I am not saying that you are completely finished. If you wish, you can play for a while longer. Even after a fire goes out, embers continue to glow faintly. After many innings, you might shine again—or you might not. No matter how strong your determination is, there comes a time when expectations and reality no longer align. More often than not, they don’t. Even the simplest calculations start going wrong. The connection between bat and ball just doesn’t feel the same. This is the inevitable law of life.

When failures pile up, one must bear the weight of disgrace and humiliation. This is no secret to anyone. Fans and spectators invest their money and emotions; they expect fresh, thrilling performances. They want to see a flood of runs from the bat, to feel the joy of victory. This is the nature of entertainment. If that expectation is not met, they don’t hesitate to express their disappointment.

Even young players face tough and challenging phases in their careers. At that stage, overcoming those challenges is easier. A strong response can be delivered swiftly, backed by full physical and mental capacity. Implementing one’s will doesn’t take much effort. But as age advances, those capabilities diminish. The patience of fans and supporters also fades. A single failure or minor mistake costs dearly. The backlash extends to families, and criticism on social media cuts like a knife. At this stage of your careers, how dignified will it be to endure such attacks? One of you is approaching 40, and the other isn’t far behind.

I am talking about Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim. Bangladesh cricket owes a great deal to these two cricketers. They have illuminated the game for years. Their contributions to all three formats of cricket remain invaluable. Individually and together, they have steered the team to victory. They have built walls of resistance in times of crisis. Their resilience has frustrated bowlers worldwide. They have won matches, anchored innings in dire situations, and fought on even when the team was losing.

Mahmudullah and Mushfiq became the backbone of Bangladesh’s middle order, a partnership built on trust and reliability. Their combined efforts should not be forgotten. The memory of their crucial partnership in the 2015 World Cup in Adelaide against England remains vivid for cricket fans. Their 141-run stand lifted Bangladesh from a precarious 99/4, leading to a historic victory. Mahmudullah scored 103, and Mushfiq 89, securing Bangladesh’s place in the quarterfinals.

There were other such moments. On November 28, 2014, against Zimbabwe in Dhaka, the team was struggling at 32/4 when Mahmudullah (82*) and Mushfiq (77) stitched together a 134-run stand to secure victory. On May 23, 2021, in Mirpur against Sri Lanka, Mushfiq (84) and Mahmudullah (54) played key roles in another crucial win. In the 2019 World Cup against Australia, facing a daunting 382-run target, Mushfiq’s unbeaten 102 and Mahmudullah’s 69 put up a fight, though it wasn’t enough.

Of course, not all memories are joyful. The heartbreak of March 23, 2016, in Bengaluru still lingers. Against India in the T20 World Cup, Bangladesh needed just two runs from three balls. But when Mushfiq and Mahmudullah fell on consecutive deliveries, the team lost by a single run.

For some, age is just a number, but no one can escape its grasp. Many refuse to accept this reality and end up paying the price. Hard-earned reputation and respect can fade into dust. There is a saying: “Better to leave before anyone says goodbye.” In Bangladesh cricket, this principle is rarely followed. Players often continue waiting for opportunities even after losing form, and eventually, they fade away unnoticed.

In the history of Bangladesh cricket, the “Fantastic Five”—Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, and Mahmudullah—stand above all. They took Bangladesh cricket to new heights. However, their exits from the game have not been as glorious as their careers deserved.

Mashrafe faded into politics, never officially announcing retirement. Shakib, too, has been caught in political turbulence. Tamim Iqbal’s departure was anything but smooth—he announced his retirement on social media. Now, only Mushfiq and Mahmudullah remain. Their time is running out.

Mahmudullah has already retired from Test cricket and recently stepped away from T20s, continuing only in ODIs. Mushfiq has retired from T20s but still plays Tests and ODIs. Neither has given any indication of retirement. Their continued presence has even surprised cricket analysts like Dinesh Karthik. While he voiced his thoughts openly, many others remain silent.

It is true that finding replacements for Mushfiq and Mahmudullah won’t be easy. But they cannot play forever. Whether today or tomorrow, retirement is inevitable. Wouldn’t it be better to leave at the right time? So, what do Mushfiq and Mahmudullah say?

Dulal Mahmud: Editor, Fortnightly Sports World.