Mushfiqur Rahim Retirement News
Former Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim announced his decision of taking the retirement from T20 international cricket on Sunday.
Rahim was part of Bangladesh’s Asia Cup 2022 squad that failed to qualify for the super four stage in the tournament after losing both their group games against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
The wicketkeeper-batter announced his retirement on Twitter and stated that he would now concentrate on ODIs and Tests. Rahim also stated in his statement that he will be available to participate in franchise leagues when the chance arises.
“I would like to announce my retirement from T20 INTERNATIONALS and focus on Test and ODI formats of the game. I will be available to play franchise leagues when the opportunity arrives. Looking forward to proudly represent my nation in the two formats-MR15,” he tweeted.
After Tamim Iqbal’s retirement from T20 Internationals in July, Rahim is now the second player from Bangladesh to take the retirement from T20Is.
In 102 T20Is for Bangladesh, Mushfiqur amassed 1,500 runs at an average of 19.48. While the highest total for a right-handed batter in this format is 72 not out. In T20Is for Bangladesh, he has a strike rate of 115.03.
Mushfiqur’s scores of 4 and 1, and a crucial dropped catch of Kusal Mendis against Sri Lanka, brought back the spotlight on his place in the T20I team.
His selection in the T20I team was once again came into spotlight after he only managed to score 4 and 1, respectively in two games, and an important dropped catch of Kusal Mendis against Sri Lanka.
Rahim’s inclusion in the upcoming T20 World Cup squad of Bangladesh was in doubt considering his dry run in the shortest format of the game. Later this month, a Bangladeshi team will go to New Zealand to compete in a T20 tri-series against Pakistan and New Zealand. The same team is anticipated to be announced for the T20 World Cup in Australia, starting October 16.
Mushfiqur has struggled in T20Is for almost three years, scoring just two half-centuries since November 2019. He has, however, consistently delivered in both Tests and ODIs. Since November 2019, when his T20I performance began to drop, Mushfiqur has averaged 54.81 in 15 Test matches, amassing three hundreds, including a double-hundred. He has played 20 ODIs in the period, averaging 42.12.
