Bangladesh's Legendary Wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim Announces Retirement from ODI Cricket

Bangladesh’s veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim has officially called time on his ODI career. The 36-year-old made the announcement on 5th March, via his official Facebook page, bringing an end to a remarkable 19-year journey in the 50-over format.

In a heartfelt message, Mushfiqur reflected on his career with gratitude and pride. "I am announcing my retirement from the ODI format as of today," he wrote. "Alhamdulillah for everything. While our achievements may have been limited on a global level, one thing is certain: whenever I stepped onto the field for my country, I gave more than 100% with dedication and honesty." He also took a moment to thank those who supported him throughout his career. "The last few weeks have been very challenging for me, and I have come to realize that this is my destiny. Lastly, I would like to deeply thank my family, friends, and my fans, for whom I have played cricket for the last 19 years." 

Bangladesh's legendary wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim has announced his retirement from the ODI format

He is the most capped player in ODIs for Bangladesh with 274 matches and the second-highest run-scorer for his team in ODIs with 7,795 runs #MushfiqurRahim #Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/BA3TPtdBGk

— ScoreWaves (@ScoreWaves) March 5, 2025

Mushfiqur’s decision comes in the wake of Bangladesh’s disappointing campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where they suffered an early exit. Under Najmul Hossain Shanto’s leadership, the Tigers struggled, losing their opening game to India by six wickets before being outclassed by New Zealand. Their final group-stage match against hosts Pakistan was washed out, leaving them winless in the tournament. Unfortunately, Mushfiqur himself had a tough time with the bat, registering a golden duck against India and managing just two runs against New Zealand. 

Despite a disappointing farewell to ODIs, Mushfiqur Rahim leaves behind an incredible legacy. Since making his debut against Zimbabwe in 2006, he played 274 ODIs, finishing as Bangladesh’s second-highest run-scorer in the format with 7,795 runs at an average of 36.42, including nine centuries and 49 half-centuries. His contributions as a wicketkeeper were equally remarkable—he is one of only five keepers to have played over 250 ODIs, and his seven centuries as a designated wicketkeeper rank fourth in history, behind legends like Kumar Sangakkara, Adam Gilchrist, and MS Dhoni. 

While his ODI and T20I careers have now come to an end, Mushfiqur remains an integral part of Bangladesh’s Test setup. Having already played 94 Tests, he is on track to become the first Bangladeshi cricketer to reach the prestigious 100-Test milestone.