Mushfiqur Rahim has endured a dismal run with the bat in the ongoing Champions Trophy, drawing heavy criticism for his performances. Amid this, speculation about his retirement had been swirling. Finally, the experienced batter has decided to bid farewell to One Day International (ODI) cricket.
On Wednesday (March 5) night, Mushfiqur officially announced his retirement through a post on his verified Facebook page.
Despite his recent poor form, Mushfiqur was included in the Champions Trophy squad due to his vast experience. However, he failed to make an impact with the bat. Worse still, he faced intense criticism for playing reckless shots at crucial moments when the team needed stability.
It wasn’t just a matter of underperformance—his mode of dismissals at critical junctures left fans deeply disappointed. Following his dismissal against New Zealand, renowned commentator Ian Smith expressed his frustration, saying, “For someone with this much experience, that shot was extremely disappointing.”
In the first match against India, Mushfiqur was dismissed for a duck, and in the next game, he managed only two runs. Accepting his struggles, he has now decided to step away from ODI cricket.
In his farewell post, Mushfiqur wrote:
"Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu. Today, I am announcing my retirement from the ODI format. Alhamdulillah for everything. Though our achievements on the global stage were limited, one thing is certain: every time I stepped onto the field for my country, I gave more than 100% with dedication and integrity."
Reflecting on the Champions Trophy, he admitted, "The past few weeks have been very challenging for me, and I have come to understand that this is my fate. As Allah says in the Quran: ‘Wa tu'izzu man tasha’ wa tuzillu man tasha’—‘And He honors whom He wills, and He humiliates whom He wills.’ (3:26) May the Almighty forgive us and guide everyone to the right faith.”
Expressing gratitude to his fans and family, Mushfiqur added, "Finally, I would like to extend my deepest thanks to my family, friends, and fans, for whom I have played cricket for the past 19 years. Jazakallah Khairan."
