Bangladesh’s seasoned fast bowler Rubel Hossain has bid farewell to international cricket at the age of 36, bringing down the curtain on a career that spanned 159 appearances for the national team.
In a heartfelt message shared with his 3.5 million Facebook followers, the right-arm pacer expressed gratitude to his family, fans, and the cricket fraternity, while confirming that he had long contemplated this moment. His final international appearance came in a T20I against New Zealand back in April 2021.
“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,” Rubel wrote. He confirmed he intends to carry on at the domestic level.
Rubel’s international journey was one of highs, heartbreaks, and memorable moments. He first burst onto the scene in 2009 after being discovered during a pacer hunt led by then fast-bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake. Known for his slingy action and the ability to regularly clock 140kph, he made an immediate impact by becoming the first Bangladeshi bowler to claim four wickets on an ODI debut, helping his side defeat Sri Lanka.
Perhaps his finest hour came at the 2015 Cricket World Cup. During Bangladesh’s historic victory over England in Adelaide, Rubel dismissed Ian Bell and England captain Eoin Morgan, finishing with figures of 4 for 53, a performance etched into Bangladeshi cricketing folklore.
In ODIs, he picked up 129 wickets at an average of 34.31, making him Bangladesh’s fifth-highest wicket-taker in the format at the time of his retirement. He also registered a hat-trick against New Zealand in 2013 and claimed seven four-wicket hauls across his ODI career.
Injuries in recent years had limited his participation both internationally and in domestic cricket, making retirement a natural next step. As Rubel steps away, Bangladesh cricket bids a warm farewell to one of its most spirited fast-bowling talents.
