Bangladesh fast bowler Rubel Hossain announces retirement from international cricket

Bangladesh fast bowler Rubel Hossain has hung up his boots from international cricket after representing his country 159 times across the three formats. 

Having last represented Bangladesh in 2021, Hossain announced his retirement from the international game after constant injuries reduced his game time. He will continue playing domestic cricket in his home country.  

“I am pacer Rubel Hossain. I have played 27 Tests, 104 ODIs and 28 T20Is for Bangladesh. The national team is my passion. But at some point, I had to leave international cricket. With that in mind, I said goodbye to international cricket. However, I intend to continue playing domestic cricket. Thank you to my family, friends, media personnel and fans. I believe that you will continue to support me for the rest of my life,” Hossain said in a Facebook post. 

Hossain made his Bangladesh debut back in 2009 in an ODI game against Sri Lanka in Mirpur, where he became the first bowler from his nation to take four wickets in his maiden outing. He ended up with 4 for 33 to help the Tigers beat the Lankan outfit, where he took the prized wicket of Angelo Matthews. 

Hossain went on to play 104 ODIs, where he took 129 wickets at an average of 34.31. The right-arm seamer will forever be remembered for his four wickets that he took against England at the 2015 World Cup in Adelaide to hand the Three Lions a shock defeat, which eventually led them to the tournament exit after the group stage. 

The 36-year-old registered his best figures in an international game in an ODI against New Zealand, ending up with 6 for 26, which included a hat-trick to claim the Player of the Match award. Hossain ended his career as Bangladesh’s fifth-highest wicket-taker in the 50-over format. 

It is worth mentioning that Hossain took one five-wicket haul in Test cricket as well. He registered figures of 5 for 166 against the Black Caps in Hamilton.