Bangladesh opener Imrul Kayes has announced his retirement from Test and first-class cricket. The 36-year-old made the emotional decision public in a video message on his Facebook page, revealing that his last red-ball match will be played for Khulna Division in the upcoming National Cricket League (NCL) fixture against Dhaka Division on November 16, 2024, at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.
Imrul’s retirement from the longer format brings an end to a significant chapter in Bangladesh’s cricket history, where he carved out a steady career as an opening batsman. Despite calling time on his red-ball career, Imrul confirmed that he will continue to play white-ball cricket, including domestic competitions and possibly limited-overs internationals.
In his farewell message, Imrul described the decision to retire as “the most difficult and emotional” of his life. He reflected on a distinguished career that saw him represent Bangladesh in 39 Test matches between 2008 and 2019. His Test career was marked by a strong opening partnership with fellow left-hander Tamim Iqbal, with whom he formed Bangladesh’s most successful and prolific first-wicket pair.
Imrul played his last Test match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, during the historic day-night Test against India in November 2019. Over the course of his Test career, Imrul accumulated 1,797 runs at an average of 24.28, including three centuries and four half-centuries. His contributions were often vital at the top of the order, where he mostly opened the batting or batted at No. 3.
However, it was his prolific opening partnership with Tamim Iqbal that defined his Test career. The duo added a total of 2,336 runs in 53 innings as Bangladesh’s most successful opening pair, with an average of 45.80 runs per stand. They set numerous records during their time together, most notably a world-record 312-run partnership in Khulna against Pakistan in 2015. This monumental stand came in the third innings of a Test match and helped Bangladesh save the game after conceding a massive first-innings lead.
Imrul and Tamim also shared four century partnerships in their time together, with their highest being 185 runs in the 2010 Lord’s Test against England. Their consistency at the top was pivotal in establishing Bangladesh as a competitive Test side in world cricket.
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In addition to his Test achievements, Imrul Kayes has been a mainstay in Bangladesh’s domestic cricket scene, with a career that is just 70 runs short of the 8,000-run mark in first-class cricket. His farewell match against Dhaka Division will give him an opportunity to achieve this milestone before he steps away from red-ball cricket for good.
While his Test career comes to a close, Imrul will continue to contribute to Bangladesh’s cricketing landscape in the shorter formats. His retirement from the longer format marks the end of an era for the country’s cricketing history, particularly in terms of the opening partnership that became a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s batting for over a decade.
As Imrul Kayes bows out from Test and first-class cricket, his legacy will be defined by his solid contributions at the top of the order, his remarkable partnership with Tamim Iqbal, and his role in some of Bangladesh’s most memorable Test matches.