With his contemporaries all retired, Mahmudullah Riyad, at 38, remains the last standing member of Bangladesh’s legendary 'Fabulous Five' in the T20I format.

Despite the departure of Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah continues to don the Bangladesh jersey in T20Is. However, questions about his future have started to surface as the Tigers begin their preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup, starting with the ongoing series against India.

Many wonder if Mahmudullah will be part of the squad when the World Cup rolls around, or if he will decide to hang up his boots before then. Adding to this speculation is the absence of promising young finisher Shamim Hossain Patwari, who is waiting in the wings to make his mark.

When questioned about Mahmudullah’s longevity, Bangladesh’s T20 captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed frustration at the constant comparison between the veteran and younger talents. He emphasized the importance of recognizing Mahmudullah’s contributions over the years.

“You can’t just compare Mahmudullah bhai with anyone. He has served Bangladesh cricket for so long, has won us so many matches. Yes, he hasn’t finished every game successfully, but he has played a crucial role in many of our victories. Shamim is young and performing well, but I don’t think it’s fair to make comparisons. When he gets his opportunity, I am sure he will serve the team well. The fact that Mahmudullah didn’t score in a practice game means nothing to me,” said Shanto.

As for Mahmudullah’s future in the T20 setup, Shanto passed the responsibility over to the selectors. “From what I understand, this series is crucial for Mahmudullah bhai. He might have discussions with the selectors as well. I’m not entirely sure. It’s up to the selectors and the board to decide what’s next for him.”

With Bangladesh looking ahead to the 2026 T20 World Cup, it remains to be seen how long Mahmudullah can hold on to his spot in the squad, given the increasing pool of young talent vying for a place.