Former Bangladesh captain Rajin Saleh announced his retirement from professional cricket in the sidelines of the first Test match between host Bangladesh and Zimbabwe at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium Saturday.
Rajin was one of the Sylhet cricketers who were accorded a reception by Sylhet Divisional Sports Association to mark SICS’s maiden Test. Former Bangladesh batsman Rajin later went to the press box to inform of his retirement following the ongoing season of the National Cricket League.
“I played 22 years in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League and around six years in the national team. My last match in the NCL starts from November 5, following which I have decided to retire from the game,” Rajin announced in front of the media.
“I am thankful to everyone who helped me build the name ‘Rajin Saleh’. Whatever I am today is because of your support. Allah has been helpful to me and my family was always there in the journey but you were too. Please keep me in your prayers so that I can be in the cricket fraternity and work for the betterment of the game in the country,” said an emotional Rajin.
The 34-year old expressed his wish to work with cricket in his home division. Rajin, who captained Bangladesh in two ODIs, said he wishes to work on producing batsmen from the Sylhet division.
The current Bangladesh national pool has two members hailing from Sylhet, but both are bowlers in the shape of Abu Jayed Rahi and the uncapped Khaled Ahmed. The duo are part of the Test squad currently facing Zimbabwe in the first Test in Sulhet.
“I wish to work particularly on batting. We need to find out some good batsmen with the ability of representing Bangladesh,” said Rajin.
Following his international bow in 2003, Rajin played 43 ODIs before getting axed from the national fold in 2006. He went on to play Tests till 2008 and represented the country in 24 matches in the format.
Rajin made his first-class debut in the 2000-01 season and represented Sylhet in 147 matches. He also played 140 List A matches for various teams.
