Former all-format Bangladeshi opener Imrul Kayes officially announced his retirement from the red-ball cricket arena via a video message on his Facebook page on Wednesday. In that video, the 37-year-old stated that the first-class game against Dhaka Division on November 16th will be the last game of his professional cricketing career in the longest format. However, he added that he will continue to feature in white-ball matches in the domestic arena.

In his now-viral video on social media, Kayes admitted that it was indeed a hard decision for him to quit red-ball cricket from an emotional perspective. 

"On November 16, I will retire from Test and first-class cricket. It is the most difficult and emotional decision of my life."

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An overview of his record in Test and First-Class cricket

Kayes made his debut for Bangladesh at a very young age of 21 against New Zealand in a one-day international back in 2008. In his 11-year-long career, the Khulna-based batter went on to represent his national side across all three formats. However, he contributed the most in the ODI format. In 78 ODI innings, Kayes made some invaluable contributions at the top with his former opening partner Tamim Iqbal and churned 2434 runs at a healthy average of 32.02. Moreover, the most number of international centuries (four) came in this format alone.

The elegant left-handed opener was equally capable in the red-ball format too. Out of 39 Tests, batting predominantly at the top of the order and occasionally at No. 3, he piled up 1797 runs at a modest average of 24.28, with three centuries and four fifties. Kayes last featured in this format way back in 2019 in a day-night Test match at Eden Gardens where Bangladesh were handed a terrible hammering by the hosts India by an innings and 46 runs.

But his record in domestic FC cricket is by far the most formidable. After being involved in the domestic circuit for nearly two decades, Kayes has featured for his domestic side in as many as 137 FC games in which he amassed over 7000 runs with 20 centuries and 27 half-century scores to his name. These are some commendable stats and the former Bangladeshi top-order opener can certainly take pride in maintaining such an accomplished track record.

His opening partnership with Tamim Iqbal

More than his personal milestones, Kayes is highly renowned for the partnership that he shared with Tamim at the top of the order. The duo formed one of the most successful opening stands for Bangladesh in ODI and Test cricket. During Bangladesh's formative years, the pair would often get Bangladesh off to a blazing start with Tamim playing the role of the aggressor while Kayes would be keen to play the anchoring role to hold one end intact.

They remain Bangladesh's most prolific opening pair by far, having added 2336 runs in 53 innings. The second-best opening pair for Bangladesh is between Javed Omar and Nafees Iqbal who have added 665 runs between them.  The average first-wicket partnership between Imrul and Tamim amounts to 45.8 which is by far the best for any Bangladesh opening pair.

Imrul and Tamim notched up four century opening stands escorting Bangladesh out of precarious situations in quite a few instances. The first of the lot was an unbelievable 185-run stand at Lords on a difficult seaming wicket while the last one was a world record stand of 312 runs in the fourth innings against Pakistan in 2015 which helped the Tigers save the Test match despite conceding a mammoth lead of 296 runs. With that stand, the pair went on to register their names in the record books as that was the only 300-plus opening stand to have ever been recorded in the fourth innings of a Test match.

Imrul is currently 70 runs away from reaching the milestone of 8000 runs in first-class cricket. He will have the opportunity to achieve this accomplishment in Mirpur, where his final match is set to commence on November 16.

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On Sunday, a BCB official revealed that Tamim Iqbal, the former ODI skipper of Bangladesh, has formally requested the Bangladesh Cricket Board not to include him in the upcoming central contract list. This appeal follows Tamim’s previous statement, indicating that he would determine the future of his international career after discussions with BCB President Nazmul Hassan. Their previous meeting was cut short due to the BCB president’s commitments to the upcoming general election campaign.

Tamim, who last played for Bangladesh in the three-match home ODI series against New Zealand in September before the ICC World Cup in India, participated in only one Test and 12 ODIs in 2023. The 34-year-old chose to make himself unavailable for the World Cup due to disagreements with BCB leadership and team management. Consequently, he did not feature in the home Test series against New Zealand or the ongoing tour.

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Despite his absence, Tamim clarified last month that he intends to make a comeback to competitive cricket through the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League, the nation’s exclusive franchise-based T20 tournament, scheduled to commence on January 19.

Jalal Yunus, the chairman of BCB cricket operations, shared that Tamim expressed his personal plans and requested not to be included in the central contract list. He further mentioned that Tamim is expected to meet with the BCB president after the national election to determine the subsequent steps. The finalization of the central contract list by BCB is anticipated by December 31, pending approval from the BCB president.

Tamim Iqbal, who recently returned to international cricket after a brief retirement, has once again faced uncertainty about his future in the sport. This uncertainty comes in the wake of various incidents just before the World Cup, prompting Tamim to enter a temporary retirement phase. The prolific cricketer’s future in international cricket is now hanging in the balance.

In a recent meeting with Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hasan Papon, Tamim discussed his future in the sport. Papon stated that a decision regarding Tamim’s future would be made after the conclusion of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Tamim, however, did not provide any official statement on the matter. Instead, he mentioned that he is making a return to the cricket field through the BPL.

Addressing the media at his residence, Tamim expressed, “I will probably start my cricket game from BPL. Then you might get an idea of what’s going on. I would never want to do this without another month, without another month. Dragging things unnecessarily… (I don’t want to). I have already made my decision, after many discussions with the board. They told me many things and I have to respect them too. Let’s wait till January, let me play BPL then there will be more discussion hopefully let’s see what happens.”

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As the Bangladesh cricket team commenced a two-match Test series against New Zealand, Tamim extended his best wishes to the team. Despite his potential absence, he emphasized his support for the team, stating, “Even if I don’t play, it’s our team, and I wish them all the best.”

The first match of the Test series took place at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on November 28. Tamim’s return to competitive cricket through the BPL remains a focal point, and further developments are anticipated after the conclusion of the league.

Bangladeshi captain & batting prowess Tamim Iqbal has just announced a reversal of his retirement decision, which had come a day after his declaration to retire from the sport. By this, we can infer he will be back donning the Bangladeshi colours in the upcoming matches. 

According to ESPN Cricinfo reports, Iqbal had talks with the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, today at her residence. The conversation was held with his wife, Mashrafe Mortaza, former captain and Nazmul Hasan, BCB chief. From the reports, Tamim stated, “The honourable Prime Minister invited me to her residence this afternoon. We had a long discussion, after which she instructed me to return to cricket. I am withdrawing my retirement.”

Tamim also mentioned that he had been given a six-week break to recover from an injury spree. He said, “I can say no to anyone, but it is impossible to say no to the most important person in the country. Mashrafe bhai called me while Papon bhai [Hassan] was here. They were big factors [in the reversal]. The Prime Minister has also given me a break of a month and a half. I will complete my treatment and return to playing cricket.”

This comes after the left-hand batter shocked the world cricket fraternity when the left-handed batter announced an untimely retirement from international cricket at a press conference yesterday. Though the batter did not mention the exact reason before taking up the big decision, the cause could possibly be after an unfortunate loss by 17 runs through the D/L method on Wednesday against Afghanistan in the first encounter of the three-match ODI series.

Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has been ruled out of the ODI series against India, which begins on December 4 in Mirpur, due to a groin injury. He is also in doubt for the Test series that begins on December 14 in Chattogram. Tamim picked up the injury during a warm-up match at the same venue on Wednesday. The first ODI will be held in Dhaka on Sunday. Followed by the second one at the same venue on December 7. The final match on December 10 in Chattogram.

Earlier on Thursday, fast bowler Taskin Ahmed was ruled out of the first ODI due to a back injury. “Tamim has a Grade 1 strain on his right groin which has been confirmed following an MRI,” Bangladesh team physio Bayjedul Islam Khan said. “We will maintain a conservative treatment protocol for him for two weeks after which his rehab will begin. Unfortunately it means he will not be available for the ODI series and will be doubtful for the Test series.”

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Not a happy start for Bangladesh, loses an experienced player before the series

The BCB are yet to name a captain or a replacement for Tamim. They have however called up Shoriful Islam as a back-up for Taskin from the Bangladesh A side who are currently playing against India A in Cox’s Bazar. “Taskin is out of the first ODI and we will know about his availability for the rest of the ODI series only after another fitness test,”. Bangladesh’s chief selector Minhajul Abedin told earlier on Thursday. Bangladesh team physio Bayjedul Islam Khan said. “We will maintain a conservative treatment protocol for him for two weeks after which his rehab will begin.

Taskin suffered the injury during a BCL match on November 20 for which he has been taking a pain-killer injection for the last few days. He has emerged as the bowling attack leader in the last 12 months after making a stellar comeback. But earlier this year, he was out of action for a few months due to a shoulder injury. He picked up the back injury during a BCL match on November 20. The first ODI will be held in Dhaka on Sunday followed by the second one at the same venue on December 7 and the final match on December 10 in Chattogram.

17^th March is a big day in the history of both Bangladesh and Indian Cricket. It was the day which saw the Indian team go into turmoil as Bangladesh rejoiced, and found a team that is still carrying them. Coming into the game, Bangladesh picked a lot of young names in the squad, while India had some giants in the form of Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Sourav Ganguly, and MS Dhoni. The Indian batting line-up looked solid, while the bowling had strong leaders in Zaheer Khan and Anil Kumble.

While the Indian team was in shambles before and after the game, Bangladesh were very clear. They strangled the Indian team in the powerplay, taking 3 wickets including that of Sachin Tendulkar in the first fifteen overs. In a puzzling and controversial decision, Sachin Tendulkar was at number four in the tournament, despite batting at the top-order before the tournament began.

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Mashrafe Mortaza started nicely. In 2007 he was still young, didn’t have too many injuries, and was very quick. His pace quickly put India on the back foot, and India struggled to recover. There was a fightback from Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh, but Ganguly’s knock of 66 off 129 sapped the momentum, and India ended with a paltry 191. Shakib Al Hasan also bowled a testing spell, finishing with economic figures, and claiming his place as the all-rounder of the side.

191 wasn’t a competitive score but in 2007 the Bangladesh team didn’t have enough experience in the batting line-up, and that left India with a small chance. Bangladesh needed a good start, and in search of a good start they found an opener who continues to carry the team, and lead the team fifteen years after the victory.

Scoring 51 off just 53 balls, Tamim Iqbal got the team off to a flier, and gathered a lot of momentum, setting up the chase nicely. However, following his wicket, there was another middle-order wobble. Bangladesh fell to 3-79, and the middle-order was left to do the work. With a fair amount of runs required, the situation helped Bangladesh unearth two more cricketers, out of which one turned out to become the nations best wicket-keeper and the other turned out to be the best player in Bangladesh’s Cricket History.

Their wicket-keeper, Mushfiqur Rahim batted through the innings, remained patient and made 56, remaining unbeaten as Bangladesh chased the target. Along with him, Shakib Al Hasan provided strong support, making a half-century as well, while involving himself in an 84-run partnership with Rahim.

With both batters shepherding the chase, Bangladesh pulled off the tournament’s biggest upset. They outplayed India in all aspects and set themselves up for a spot in the Super eights. The tournament turned out to be a massive stepping stone in their history. They went on to create some magical moments in the World Cup, winning against England in 2011, knocking England out and making the World Cup quarter-finals in 2015, making the Champions Trophy semi-finals in 2017, and finally, competing hard and nearly making it to the semi-finals in a ten-team World Cup in 2019. The World Cup saw them beat South Africa in 2019 as well, and the team has certainly grown in the twelve-year period.

While the team grew, the win saw some brilliant players come out and carry the team through this period. The opener, who set the chase up is now Bangladesh’s captain in the one-day format, and is still their best opener. An aggressive batter back then, Tamim Iqbal has now curbed his instincts and is much more calculated, playing some smart knocks.

Mushfiqur Rahim showed a lot of maturity that day, but is now known for his cheeky shots and aggressive but street-smart batting. He is still a vital cog in all three formats along with Shakib Al Hasan.

The player of the match against India, Mashrafe Mortaza, went on to lead the side over the golden period which saw them qualify to the knockout stages in 2015 and the 2017 Champions Trophy. He also led a competive side in the 2019 World Cup, and is by far the best captain in Bangladesh’s cricket history.

The third half-centurion, Shakib Al Hasan, is Bangladesh’s most valuable asset, and a captains dream. He can bat anywhere from three to five, and bowls all his overs, making him a multi-utility package. He has won countless games for Bangladesh and is easly the best thing that has happened to the national team. He may be in the middle of some issues regarding temperament, and fatigue, but his value in the team has never changed over the course of his career.

The 2019 World Cup was probably his peak as Shakib Al Hasan fought hard, and was easily the best all-rounder in the tournament. He made 606 runs in the tournament and took 11 wickets, contributing like a dream with both bat and ball. The tournament saw Shakib at his best as he almost took on the likes of Australia and England single-handedly despite mammoth totals ahead of him.

With these four, Bangladesh came a long way after the win in 2007, and are still making strong strides in World Cricket. They have built a strong team, and other cricketers have stepped up nicely. The golden generation is still around with only Mortaza not playing, and with a World Cup around the corner, it will be interesting to see what the team delivers, to add to the pile of success following the win in the 2007 World Cup.

Preview

Comilla Victorians Vs Minister Group Dhaka is the 15^th match in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League. Comilla Victorians are in the middle of a strong run of wins, with three in three games. They will be pleased to see Faf Du Plessis in form as the experienced batter hit 83 in the previous fixture. Comilla Victorians are on the top of the table due to their recent strong showing.

Minister Group Dhaka haven’t been as fortunate as they are struggling to gather momentum in the tournament. They won only two out of five and have been inconsistent with both bat and ball. On one occasion they managed a chase of 175 with ease, but on others the side hasn’t found it easy to score runs.

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Match Details

Match: Comilla Victorians Vs Minister Group Dhaka

Venue: Chattogram

Date: 1^st February 2022

Time: 12:00 PM, IST

Weather Report

The Weather forecast is clear with temperatures in the mid-20s. With a cool day in the forecast the surface is unlikely to face dryness leaving a fresh surface through the Comilla Victorians Vs Minister Group Dhaka fixture.

Pitch Report

With the surface being a used one, the ball will take some spin as the game progresses. However, due to the weather conditions, there won’t be too much dryness, leaving the surface even for both batters and bowlers. With the possibility of spin as the game progresses, batting first will be better.

Comilla Victorians Vs Minister Group Dhaka, Predicted XIs

Comilla Victorians: Liton Das (wk), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Faf du Plessis, Imrul Kayes (c), Cameron Delport, Karim Janat, Ariful Haque, Nahidul Islam, Shohidul Islam, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

Minister Group Dhaka: Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Imran Uzzaman, Naim Sheikh, Mahmudullah (c), Andre Russell, Mashrafe Mortaza, Shuvagata Hom, Qais Ahmad, Rubel Hossain, Ebadot Hossain

Players To Watch out For

Liton Das

With the surface at its best for batters when the ball is new, Liton Das will have a role to play as an opener. He is best when he is aggressive and has been in some good form of late. With the ability to go hard early in the innings, Das can make a huge difference if he manages to bat through the powerplay.

Tamim Iqbal

After announcing his decision to take a break from T20 internationals Tamim Iqbal may feel relieved. With a weight off his shoulders he could come into the upcoming fixture relaxed, and that may help him score runs with ease, as there is not much for him to worry about.

Team News

Both sides haven’t got any injury concerns and are likely to go unchanged for the upcoming fixture.

Comilla Victorians Vs Minister Group Dhaka Match Tips

In Comilla Victorians Vs Minister Group Dhaka fixture, Comilla are at an upper hand going by their recent momentum. While Minister Group Dhaka has some strong names in their line-up, they may find it tough to overhaul Comilla, and a fourth consecutive win seems likely for the Victorians.