In cricket, the finisher's role often goes underappreciated. When successful, they rarely get the credit, but one bad game, and criticism follows swiftly, especially in T20 cricket. After years of carrying the burden of this thankless job, Bangladesh veteran cricketer Mahmudullah Riyad has now stepped down. But before leaving, he left a strong message: future finishers deserve more patience and support than he received.

Mahmudullah emphasized the need for the team management and selectors to back finishers, accepting that they won’t perform well every single game. By giving them security in the team, the players can develop the confidence to play fearless cricket. This was his plea during the farewell press conference.

"If you think about the role of a finisher... batting at 6 or 7 in T20s is the hardest. Out of five innings, you’ll fail in three, win a game with a strong finish in one, and play decently in another," said Mahmudullah.

He added, "That's the job of a finisher at that position. The team, management, and board must support them, regardless of what’s being said outside or in the media. You have to back those who bat in this role. With that assurance, they’ll deliver unbelievable performances."

When asked who he sees as future finishers for Bangladesh, Mahmudullah named four players. However, he once again urged that these players be supported through both successes and failures, allowing them the room to grow into reliable finishers.

"There are a few players. Jaker Ali Anik is performing well. Shamim [Hossain] Patwari is there. Afif [Hossain] could be a great choice, and Yasir [Ali Chowdhury] Rabbi is also an option. We have several promising players. You need to be brave and not dwell on failures. The management, coach, and captain need to back them," Mahmudullah further said.