Mushfiqur Rahim, the veteran Bangladesh cricketer, has declared his retirement from One Day International (ODI) cricket. This announcement comes shortly after Bangladesh’s disappointing performance in the Champions Trophy.
Rahim concludes his ODI career as Bangladesh’s second-highest run-scorer in the format, amassing 7795 runs at an average of 36.42. His record includes nine centuries and 49 half-centuries in 274 matches. Notably, he is among a select group of five wicketkeepers globally to have played over 250 ODIs, and his century count as a keeper ranks fourth, only surpassed by cricketing icons Kumar Sangakkara, Adam Gilchrist, and MS Dhoni.
His recent form had been a topic of discussion, particularly after the Champions Trophy where he faced criticism for low scores, including a golden duck against India and just 2 runs against New Zealand. His last ODI half-century was scored against Sri Lanka in March of the previous year. He also missed several ODIs due to injury.
In his retirement announcement on Facebook, Mushfiqur stated, ‘I am announcing my retirement from the ODI format as of today. Alhamdulillah for everything. While our achievements on the global stage may be modest, I can confidently say that every time I represented my country, I gave it my absolute best with dedication and honesty. The past weeks have been challenging, leading me to believe that this is the right path for me.’
He also expressed gratitude to his family, friends, and fans for their support throughout his 19-year cricketing journey.
Mushfiqur Rahim is celebrated as a significant figure in Bangladesh’s ODI history. He first gained prominence during the 2007 World Cup, chosen over veteran Khaled Mashud, and immediately justified his selection by scoring a fifty in a memorable victory against India. He became a consistent middle-order batsman for Bangladesh for nearly two decades, barring a brief period in 2008.
Mushfiqur also holds the record for the most consecutive ODIs played for Bangladesh, with 92 matches between 2010 and 2016.
Having retired from T20Is after the 2022 T20 World Cup, he remains focused on Test cricket and is on track to become the first Bangladeshi to play 100 Test matches, currently standing at 94.
