Sports Desk:

Rangpur Riders head coach Mickey Arthur was vocal about Mahmudullah’s contribution so far in this year’s BPL as the veteran scored three important, match-defining innings of 34*, 50 and 30* in the last three matches.

Mahmudullah, who gave up international cricket following the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, had not been playing domestic cricket prior to this ongoing BPL.

Despite the lack of cricket leading into the competitive league, Mahmudullah hit the ground running after one early failure, when he could not score a run off the very last over of the match against Rajshahi Warriors.

“Mahmudullah is incredibly professional,” Arthur said after the practice session on Thursday. “You know, I’ve obviously always coached against him and it’s actually been really nice to get to know him as a person. But also to get to see him go about his business and how he preps — and his preparation is outstanding. He doesn’t leave anything to chance, prepares properly, and that’s why he gets the results when he goes out to bat,” he said.

“I think he was so disappointed after the game that he didn’t get us over the line. Well, he’s got us over the line in two games now and been absolutely incredible. So it’s been really, really nice to work with him, but it’s been even better to get to know him as a person and I’ve been so impressed with how he prepares,” he added.

The 39-year-old batter might have to play an even bigger role as the BPL goes deeper into the one-venue phase, which will eventually tire the wicket down to a stage where spin comes into play — a skill Mahmudullah has mastered over the years.

“Yeah, his role is vitally important for us. And as you rightly say, we’re expecting the wickets to get a little bit tougher, the ball to turn a little bit more, particularly scoring in the middle overs is going to be, I think, quite tough. So his role becomes so important for us at number five,” Arthur said.

Rangpur head coach also highlighted Dawid Malan’s role as conditions get tougher.

“As Dawid Malan does at the top of the order — because you need guys that, I always say, through those phases you need guys… We see so many times in T20 cricket, guys come out and bash, bash, bash, and then they get out. And everybody remembers those innings,” he said.

“But what they forget is the guys who’ve actually got you home and done the hard work through the middle when the game’s tough, when there’s a lot of pressure on the game — how they absorb that pressure and then take you home. And Mahmudullah has done that and I think Dawid Malan has done that for us as well this competition. So to have two players like that in our top five has been very special because it allows Kyle Mayers, Litton Das and Hridoy to play their games,” he concluded.