Mushfiqur Rahim has confirmed that he will not be reversing his ODI retirement, dismissing the idea of a return to Bangladesh’s one-day side and stating that the team has moved to a level where his services are no longer required. The veteran batter made the remarks at a press conference in Sylhet on 15 May, on the eve of the second Test against Pakistan.
Reports had emerged last month that ODI captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz was keen to bring Mushfiqur back into the one-day squad. The discussion generated considerable attention given Mushfiqur’s status as Bangladesh’s second most successful ODI batter and second highest centurion in the format. However, the approach never materialised into a formal recall, and Mushfiqur has now closed the door himself.
“Yes, the message did come to me,” he confirmed. “But I believe Bangladesh cricket is at a level now, and will reach a level in the future, where my services will not be needed in that way.”
His ODI career came to an end with the Champions Trophy last year, having already retired from T20I cricket some time before that. Among number four batters in ODI cricket since his debut, only Ross Taylor and AB de Villiers have scored more runs in that position, a statistic that captures the scale of his contribution to Bangladesh’s middle order over many years.
Miraz, speaking last month ahead of the ODI series against New Zealand, had also acknowledged that Mushfiqur’s return would not be happening, while making clear the personal regard he holds for the player.
“Having a player like Mushfiq bhai in the team makes an captain’s job so much easier. Looking at his fitness, one could say he could have played for a while longer. But since he has retired, I respect that decision,” Miraz said. “I spoke as captain because he is still playing Test cricket, but since he has retired from ODIs, it is not a decision for one person alone. It involves everyone’s input, and since he has retired, that decision should be respected.”
Mushfiqur’s ODI career was defined not merely by numbers, impressive as they are, but by the frequency with which his batting shifted the course of matches for Bangladesh. Year after year he was the bedrock of the middle order, the man opponents most wanted to remove and Bangladesh most needed to stay. His retirement from the format marked the end of an era for one-day cricket in the country.
For now, Mushfiqur remains focused entirely on Test cricket, with the second Test against Pakistan in Sylhet beginning on 16 May.
