Despite the rise of Bangladesh cricket over the years, one elusive goal remains for the men’s national team—a major international trophy. While the women's team clinched the Asia Cup and the U19 men’s team secured a World Cup, the senior men’s side has yet to bring home such silverware. But for Mahmudullah Riyad, who recently announced his retirement from T20 internationals, the lack of trophies doesn’t define a career.

Following in the footsteps of Bangladesh’s cricket greats—Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Shakib Al Hasan—Mahmudullah is the latest of the famed "Fab Five" to step down. While the group was unable to capture a World Cup, Champions Trophy, or even an Asia Cup title, Mahmudullah remains content with his career achievements.

During his farewell press conference, Mahmudullah addressed the inevitable question about not winning a major title. The 38-year-old veteran dismissed the notion that his career, or that of his peers, should be judged solely by trophies.

"I understand that people feel disappointed about not winning a trophy. But I don’t believe that’s the only measure of success. If we only use trophies as a benchmark, then many legendary players across the world would not be considered legends," said Mahmudullah.

He went on to reflect on the transformation of Bangladesh cricket since his debut in 2007, emphasizing that the team’s current strength should not be overlooked. "When I joined the dressing room in 2007, the environment was very different. We’ve come a long way since then. It’s not just about the Fab Five; everyone has contributed. If you judge purely on trophies, you’ll miss out on recognizing the contributions of many legends."

Even though the Bangladesh T20 team has struggled with consistency, Mahmudullah believes the team is heading in the right direction. "I wouldn’t say we haven’t made progress. We’ve had some fantastic results in this format. Perhaps we need more consistency, but the improvements are there."