Mashud calls it a day
Monday, 29 September 2008
Former Bangladesh captain-cum-long serving national wicket keeper Khaled Mashud Pilot has retired from all forms of international cricket-Test, one-day international (ODI) and T20 International- with immediate effect after about 13 years of colorful journey in international cricket.
But he will continue to play domestic and the first class cricket for Rajshahi Division, reports UNB.
The 32-year old right-handed lower order batsman-cum-wicket-keeper Mashud conveyed his intention to the Bangladesh Cricket Board in writing Thursday.
Meanwhile, the BCB officials had a cordial meeting with Mashud Sunday discussing his retirement plans. The board later accepted his decision to retire from international cricket with considerable regret.
The BCB gratefully acknowledged Mashud's immense contribution to the national team for over a decade and was heartened by the fact that he had offered his unconditional commitment to Bangladesh cricket and the cause of the game's development in the country.
"I intend to retire from all forms of international cricket with immediate effect. I have made this decision after a lot of soul searching and this is a very emotional moment for me," Mashud informed.
Khaled Mashud, popularly known as Pilot, played an important role for Bangladesh's triumph in the 1997 ICC Trophy in Malaysia hitting a match-winning six against Kenya in the final to qualify for World Cup Cricket.
Mashud, who made his ODI debut against India in Sharjah in April in 1995, also showed his brilliance with his stand of 93 with century maker Aminul Islam Bulbul in the country's inaugural Test against India in Dhaka in 2000.
Former Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore once acclaimed Mashud, saying "he is a good keeper standing up, and though he drops the odd ball off the seamers, he is the best in Asia."
Mashud got the captaincy when Naimur Rahman Durjoy was sacked after the home defeat against Zimbabwe late in 2001, but quit captaincy after Bangladesh's humiliations in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.
His finest moment came in St Lucia in West Indies in June 2004, when his unbeaten second innings century helped Bangladesh to make a draw in their first Test in the Caribbean.
He also made an unbeaten 71 in the final match of the NatWest Series against Australia in England in 2005, but has then had 24 Test innings without a half-century.
Mashud also made an important contribution with 49 runs in Bangladesh's first Test win against Zimbabwe in January 2005. He played his last Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo in June 2007. He scored 1409 runs in 84 innings of 44 test featuring 103 runs against West India with an average of 19.04 with 78 catches and nine stumping.
Masud, who made his ODI debut against India at Sharjah in 1995, scored 1818 runs in 126 ODI matches with an average of 21.90 and with highest 71 runs against Australia in 2005 featuring 91 catches and 35 stumping. He played his last ODI against Zimbabwe in Bogra in 2006.
But he will continue to play domestic and the first class cricket for Rajshahi Division, reports UNB.
The 32-year old right-handed lower order batsman-cum-wicket-keeper Mashud conveyed his intention to the Bangladesh Cricket Board in writing Thursday.
Meanwhile, the BCB officials had a cordial meeting with Mashud Sunday discussing his retirement plans. The board later accepted his decision to retire from international cricket with considerable regret.
The BCB gratefully acknowledged Mashud's immense contribution to the national team for over a decade and was heartened by the fact that he had offered his unconditional commitment to Bangladesh cricket and the cause of the game's development in the country.
"I intend to retire from all forms of international cricket with immediate effect. I have made this decision after a lot of soul searching and this is a very emotional moment for me," Mashud informed.
Khaled Mashud, popularly known as Pilot, played an important role for Bangladesh's triumph in the 1997 ICC Trophy in Malaysia hitting a match-winning six against Kenya in the final to qualify for World Cup Cricket.
Mashud, who made his ODI debut against India in Sharjah in April in 1995, also showed his brilliance with his stand of 93 with century maker Aminul Islam Bulbul in the country's inaugural Test against India in Dhaka in 2000.
Former Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore once acclaimed Mashud, saying "he is a good keeper standing up, and though he drops the odd ball off the seamers, he is the best in Asia."
Mashud got the captaincy when Naimur Rahman Durjoy was sacked after the home defeat against Zimbabwe late in 2001, but quit captaincy after Bangladesh's humiliations in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.
His finest moment came in St Lucia in West Indies in June 2004, when his unbeaten second innings century helped Bangladesh to make a draw in their first Test in the Caribbean.
He also made an unbeaten 71 in the final match of the NatWest Series against Australia in England in 2005, but has then had 24 Test innings without a half-century.
Mashud also made an important contribution with 49 runs in Bangladesh's first Test win against Zimbabwe in January 2005. He played his last Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo in June 2007. He scored 1409 runs in 84 innings of 44 test featuring 103 runs against West India with an average of 19.04 with 78 catches and nine stumping.
Masud, who made his ODI debut against India at Sharjah in 1995, scored 1818 runs in 126 ODI matches with an average of 21.90 and with highest 71 runs against Australia in 2005 featuring 91 catches and 35 stumping. He played his last ODI against Zimbabwe in Bogra in 2006.