The Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim, who is one of the very few players in the world to have played more than 100 T20 international games, has decided to bid adieu to T20I cricket, as Bangladesh got eliminated from the group round of Asia Cup 2022 without winning a single game.
Bangladesh had not gone into Asia Cup 2022 as one of the favorites, but they were expected to be one of the teams from group B to make it to the super 4 round. However, they ended up losing both their group games against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka respectively, and were one of the two teams, apart from Hong Kong, to be eliminated from the group round of the tournament itself.
Mushfiqur Rahim was one of the most experienced batsmen in Bangladesh’s Asia Cup squad and he batted at no. 4 in both games without making any significant contribution. It was almost certain that after a debacle in the Asia Cup, question marks would be raised over Mushfiqur’s spot in Bangladesh’s T20I team.
Mushfiqur Rahim might have been dropped from Bangladesh’s T20I team
The right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman, who has also been a former captain of Bangladesh, might even have been dropped from the T20I squad with a couple of other wicketkeepers Nurul Hasan Sohan and Liton Das all set to return to the Bangladesh set-up for the T20 World Cup.
However, before any final decision could be taken by the Bangladesh selectors about Mushfiqur’s future in the T20I side, he decided to step aside himself and announced earlier today that he wouldn’t play the shortest format of the game for Bangladesh anymore.
Mushfiqur Rahim would, however, be available for selection for Bangladesh in test and ODI cricket and might also play franchise T20 cricket around the world.
Here is how Twitter reacted after the news of Mushfiqur’s retirement came through today –
Mushfiqur Rahim , in his entire T20 career he got happy 2 times :-
First when India got knocked out of 2016 wc & second when he hit consecutive fours against Pandya 😂😂😂#BanglaDesh pic.twitter.com/o9IwSsdnVaAdvertisement— Mayank Nema (@MayankMNema) September 4, 2022
🚨 Mushfiqur Rahim announces his retirement from T20I cricket.
Better late than never. Need to respect the decision that he had the courage at least to take it just two months before the T20 World Cup. pic.twitter.com/E0FX3VMwKG
Advertisement— Saif Ahmed (@saifahmed75) September 4, 2022
We thought we will see you in better shape but you say good bye… You are the person who make us fall in love with 🇧🇩 cricket.. It was our pleasure to see you with gloves again.. We gonna literally miss you.. Hoping for your better journey in future.. #MushfiqurRahim https://t.co/X0A7zlqy9r
— Mohammad Ali Rplsc (@AliRplsc) September 4, 2022
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End of an era in T20Is for Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim retired from T20Is.
AdvertisementDespite being regarded as one of the best batters that Bangladesh ever produced, Mushfqiur was not as consistent in T20Is as he is in ODIs and Tests. He, however, will continue playing domestic T20s.
— Saif Hasnat (@saifhasnat) September 4, 2022
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Mushfiqur Rahim's retirement from T20Is is a good sign. But still, he is late to take this decision. It could come straight after wc failure last year. He dragged his career for no reason. He is a very important part in ODI & test team. Let's wish him luck there
Advertisement— Shihab Ahsan Khan (@shihabahsankhan) September 4, 2022
Bangladesh keeper batter Mushfiqur Rahim announced retirement from T20I!
His retirement came after Bangladesh failed to qualify for Super 4 stage of Asia Cup!
AdvertisementRahim said he will focus on ODI & Test cricket and will continue to play franchise T20 leagues!#AsiaCup #Cricket pic.twitter.com/9F2GxmtLmm
— Nilesh G (@oye_nilesh) September 4, 2022
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Only 15 players have gone on to play 100 or more matches in the history of T20Is.
Advertisement𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗥 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺:
115.03 – Mushfiqur Rahim𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘃𝗴 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺:
19.48 – Mushfiqur Rahim #SLvBAN | #AsiaCup2022Advertisement— Prasenjit Dey (@CricPrasen) September 1, 2022
Mushfiqur Rahim has announced his retirement from T20 internationals.@cricketaakash said that Mushfiqur Rahim played his last T20 match for Bangladesh in a post-match presentation after the Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka match.
Aap to antaryami ho @cricketaakash 😅#CricketTwitter
Advertisement— Vishal Shinde (@Vishal_Fantasy) September 4, 2022
Mushfiqur Rahim has announced his retirement from T20 internationals – he played 102 games in the format for Bangladesh
— ⌫ Kasun (@niranjan_69) September 4, 2022
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Bangladesh's Legend Mushfiqur Rahim has announced his retirement from T20 Internationals. He also made himself available for T20 Leagues around the world.
Fact: The only man with 100+ T20I, having the lowest average and strike rate. #CricketAdvertisement— 𝗠𝘂𝗱𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗳 (@MudassarHaneef) September 4, 2022