Mahmood spent six seasons at Surrey between 2002-07 and was re-signed solely for this T20 campaign, although he is hopeful of a longer stay at The Kia Oval.
“I’d like to think I can play so well in the final games that Surrey will have no choice but to offer me another contract!” he said with a laugh. “But I love this place, Surrey is my home and I’d like to continue playing. I just have to keep on doing well.”
Mahmood, who is now English qualified on tenure grounds, has won silverware before with the county, notably the T20 Cup in 2003, the same year the county lifted the NatWest Pro40 title.
“That’s why you play the game, to win trophies,” he said. “And we need to experience that again.”
Surrey have endured a season of struggles bar their current T20 efforts. Despite having Graeme Smith, before his premature departure with injury, and former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on their books, their form in four-day cricket has been poor.
They are second from bottom in Division One of the LV County Championship and have picked up just three victories in nine games in the Yorkshire Bank 40.
But Mahmood insisted fans had no need to worry about the side, insisting they were building for a positive future, particular with the support of a player of Ponting’s calibre.
“I didn’t play with Ricky in the four-day cricket but I saw a very different side to him during his time here,” he said. “He was always a tough guy to play against, always making noise, a bit like me really.
“But I saw a different side to him as a team-mate. He’s such a good guy and would pass on all the help he could to anyone in the side and was always throwing down balls in the nets.
“He’s been great for Surrey and for the young players. We feel hopeful we can get the county back to where they belong and deserve to be, winning regular trophies.”
