Mamunul Islam, former Bangladesh captain and Abahani Limited midfielder, is set to retire from international football after the World Cup and Asian Cup joint qualifying home match against India on November 12.
The 31-year old playmaker hinted this earlier after Bangladesh’s valiant 1-1 draw during the away leg in Kolkata on October 15 last year.
Mamunul reminded this on his facebook page Tuesday with a caption, MARK THE DATE!
National team are scheduled to host India in Sylhet on November 12 after playing Afghanistan and Qatar on October 3 and 13 respectively in the joint qualifiers.
Bangladesh conclude their Group E fixtures against Oman on November 17 but Mamunul will most likely not be there.
“India are the best team in the sub-continent and Bangladesh-India always offers exciting matches. I have many memories in India, played Indian Football Association Shield and Indian Super League there. Overall, Indian people know me. I felt it is better to retire against them,” said Mamunul.
Mamunul served most time on the bench in the previous four Group E fixtures during September-November in 2019, but regained his place in the starting eleven at the turn of the year during the Bangabandhu Gold Cup.
The playmaker is ready to impress Jamie Day in practice sessions and next two matches in October to retain his place in the playing eleven of his farewell game.
Winning the 2010 South Asian Games, finishing runners-up in the 2015 Bangabandhu Gold Cup and reaching Asian Games knockout stage for the first time in 2018 with the Olympic (U-23) team members are some of the favorite moments of his 13-year long career with the national team.
Since making his debut in the 2007 Merdeka Cup against Indonesia, Mamunul played over 80 international matches (including Olympic team).
He captained the national side for five years from 2011 to 2016 and featured in five editions of the South Asian Football Federation Championship, but unfortunately his side couldn’t reach the semi-final in any editions.
After the 2018 edition, Mamunul announced that he had already played his last Saff Championship.
Mamunul has a distinguished club career starting with winning the top-flight league with Brothers Union in his debut season in 2005.
He won Premier League titles with Abahani and Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited, three times with Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, the ISL title with Atletico de Kolkata, and historic treble winning season with Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra.
The current Abahani midfielder wants to extend his domestic career a bit more.
