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Mushfiqur Rahman has been one of the best cricketers of Bangladesh. Following Bangladesh’s disappointing Champions Trophy campaign, the veteran officially retired from ODI cricket on March 5, 2025. He ended his 19-year 50-over career as Bangladesh’s second-highest run-scorer (7,795 runs) and most-capped player with 274 matches. The wicketkeeper batsman has recently played a test against Pakistan.
Ahead of the second Test match, Mushfiqur Rahim was asked about his possible return to ODI cricket and his retirement from white ball. But he refused the possibility of reversing his retirement and returning to ODI cricket again. According to a Cricbuzz report, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which is going through turmoil, has requested him to reconsider his ODI retirement.
My services will not be required – Mushfiqur Rahim
Mushfiqur Rahim admitted that he has officially received the request from BCB. Despite the upcoming 2027 ICC World Cup to be held in South Africa, he has no desire to play ODIs again.
However, dismissing the rumour, the wicketkeeper told reporters in Sylhet on Friday, “I think yes, obviously the message came to me (about returning to ODI cricket), but I think the Bangladesh team is in such a position now and will go to such a position in future that my services will not be required (in ODIs).”
I saw Nahid Rana and looked closely – Mushfiq said about Nahid Rana
Mushfiqur Rahim is also happy with the rise of Bangladesh’s young fast bowler Nahid Rana, as the fast bowler has been bowling well in recent years. The veteran shared his experience of meeting the fast bowler for the first time and was impressed by his hard work and dedication towards the game.
“I had played for Sylhet (in the domestic first-class tournament) for the last two years, but when I last played for Rajshahi I saw Nahid Rana and watched him closely and played with him,” he said.
He said, “Since then, I liked him a lot and I knew that Inshallah, he would definitely play for the national team in the future. But since then, his interest in learning or desire to improve himself is very rare in any young player.”
Sylhet has always been a very good batting wicket – Mushfiqur Rahim gives update on the pitch
“Although I did not play for Rajshahi, but still, I was never surprised to see his (Rana’s) progress because that day, when I saw, I realized that he still has this desire inside him, even after performing so well, the way he thinks about a particular batsman or his way of working or his eating habits, it is a very good sign. If a young player is not like that, the atmosphere of the team really becomes different,” he said.
Mushfiqur Rahim leaked the pitch report before the second test match vs Pakistan. He said that the wicket will help the batsmen, but rain is expected again which can spoil the game. “I think the weather is a bigger challenge than your wicket and recently we also played a BCL match here. So Sylhet has always been a very good batting wicket.”
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