Mahmudullah Set for Australia as Youth and HP Mentor

Former Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah Riyad is set to begin a new chapter in his cricketing journey after being appointed mentor of the Bangladesh Under-19 national team. Although he has not formally retired from competitive cricket, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided to utilise his vast experience by assigning him a mentoring role rather than a position within the national coaching staff.

Mahmudullah remains an active cricketer, having featured in this season’s Dhaka Premier League, making him ineligible for a formal coaching role at the national level under the current circumstances. Even so, the BCB believes his wealth of international experience, leadership qualities and long-standing contribution to Bangladesh cricket can play an important role in shaping the country’s next generation of players.

The experienced all-rounder is expected to begin working with the national youth side in the near future. Since he has yet to announce his retirement from professional cricket, his official designation will remain that of a mentor regardless of the responsibilities he undertakes.

Speculation recently emerged suggesting Mahmudullah could become the batting coach of the Bangladesh ‘A’ team. The rumours quickly gained attention within the country’s cricket circles, prompting questions about whether the veteran was preparing to move directly into a coaching career.

However, sources within the Bangladesh Cricket Board have clarified that those reports are inaccurate. According to board officials, Mahmudullah has already been formally appointed as mentor of the Bangladesh Under-19 team, while discussions are also underway to assign him an additional mentoring role with the Bangladesh High Performance (HP) unit during an overseas tour next month.

The BCB is considering sending Mahmudullah to Australia as chief mentor of the HP squad, which is scheduled to participate in a developmental tournament featuring teams from Pakistan and Australian regional age-group programmes. Over the past two years, Bangladesh’s ‘A’ team, academy and High Performance players have competed in the event alongside Pakistan Shaheens and Australian representative sides, making it an important platform for developing future international cricketers.

Board officials believe Mahmudullah’s presence would provide invaluable guidance to emerging players preparing to make the transition to senior international cricket. His experience across all formats, combined with his reputation for professionalism and composure under pressure, is expected to benefit the young squad both on and off the field.

Despite ongoing speculation, the likelihood of Mahmudullah becoming batting coach of either the Bangladesh ‘A’ team or the senior national side remains slim for now. His continued participation in domestic competitions, including the Dhaka Premier League and the Bangladesh Premier League, means he is still regarded as an active player rather than a full-time coach.

The mentoring assignments appear to be the most practical way for the BCB to benefit from his extensive cricketing knowledge while allowing him to continue his playing career. Officials have also indicated that if Mahmudullah formally retires from professional cricket and expresses interest in coaching, the board could consider offering him a permanent coaching position in the future.

For the time being, however, his immediate focus will be on mentoring Bangladesh’s most promising young cricketers, with his proposed role during the High Performance team’s Australian tour now understood to be close to final approval.