Bangladesh’s legendary wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim has announced his retirement from the One Day International format.
The 37-year old is the most capped player in ODIs for Bangladesh with 274 matches and the second-highest run-scorer for his team in 50-over cricket with 7,795 runs.
The veteran right-handed batter revealed his decision on social media where he wrote: "Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu. I am announcing my retirement from the ODI format as of today. Alhamdulillah for everything. While our achivements may have been limited on a global level, one thing is certain: whenever I stepped onto the field for my country, I gave more than 100% with dedication and honesty.
"The last few weeks have been very challenging for me, and I have come to realize that this is my destiny. Allah says in the Quran - 'Wa tu’izzu man tasha’ wa tu’zhilu man tasha’ - 'And He honours whom He wills, and He disgraces whom He wills.' (3:26)
"May Almighty Allah forgive us and grant righteous Iman to all. Lastly, I would like to deeply thank my family, friends and my fans for whom I have played cricket for the last 19 years. JazakAllah Khair."
Mushfiq made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in Harare in August, 2006 and last featured for the men in red and green in the Champions Trophy against New Zealand in Rawalpindi last month.
In 256 ODI innings, he has a highest score of 144 and averages 36.42 with a strike rate of 79.7, including nine centuries and 49 fifties.
The diminutive Mushfiq, who has taken 243 catches and affected 56 stumping dismissals, is Bangladesh’s most successful wicket-keeper in history and also holds the record of scoring the fastest hundred among Tigers batters (60 balls).
Mushfiq did not have the best of times in the Champions Trophy which may have precipitated his decision to bow out from ODIs.
He was out for nought and two against India and New Zealand respectively as Bangladesh exited the tournament in the group stage.
