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Mushfiqur Rahim Reveals ODI Retirement

Mushfiqur Rahim Reveals ODI Retirement Following Underwhelming 2025 Champions Trophy Campaign

Mushfiqur Rahim, a veteran Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman, made a formal revelation about his One Day International (ODI) cricket retirement in the wake of an underwhelming and disappointing campaign at the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Mushfiqur, aged 36 and nearly two decades deep into his presence as a foundational cricketer for Bangladesh’s history, confirmed his retirement announcement on his social media platforms on Wednesday, 5 March 2025.

A Farewell to the ODI Format

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Mushfiqur Rahim Reveals ODI Retirement
Mushfiqur Rahim Reveals ODI Retirement (Credits- ESPN)

Mushfiqur’s retirement is the end of an incredible 19-year ODI career, in which he cemented his position as one of the greatest and most consistent players in the nation’s history. The news broke on the eve of the Champions Trophy final, after a disappointing tournament in which Bangladesh managed not to win a single game.

In a heartfelt Facebook post on his official handle, Mushfiqur thanked his fans and reminisced about his career. He posted, “I am retiring from the ODI format today. Thank you, Allah, for all the blessings. While our success may have been restricted at the international level, there is no denying this fact: whenever I walked onto the pitch for my nation, I dedicated more than 100% with sincerity and honesty.”

Reflecting on the Challenges

The 2025 Champions Trophy was a particularly difficult period for Mushfiqur, with the team’s poor results seemingly mirroring his own. In his post, he recognized the challenges of recent weeks, writing, “The last few weeks have been very challenging for me and I have realized that this is my destiny.” His words were a strong indication of a deep acceptance and determination, as he remained dedicated to his religion and his sport.

Thanks to Family, Friends, and Fans

Mushfiqur ended his tearful farewell with a prayerful message of thanks to the people who stood by him through his cricket career. “May Allah forgive us and bless all with good faith. Lastly, I would like to express deep gratitude to my family, friends, and my fans for whom I have played cricket for the past 19 years,” he posted. His sentiments expressed the immense gratitude he had for the constant support from his loved ones and the fans who had supported him all through his career.

A Legendary Career

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Mushfiqur Rahim Reveals ODI Retirement (Credits- ESPN)
Mushfiqur Rahim Reveals ODI Retirement (Credits- ESPN)

Mushfiqur Rahim started his career in ODI back in 2006 as a debut player for Zimbabwe. Within nearly twenty years, he proved himself as Bangladesh’s greatest influence among all its cricketers. He achieved 7795 runs and scored nine hundred with 49 fifty-over-half hundreds during the total 274 matches he played for ODIs.

He played his crucial part with middle order performances consistently being on a record mark of unbeatable ness to achieve reliability amongst others, ranking one among them definitely as reliable batting order batsman in team consideration.

Besides his batting skills, Mushfiqur was a brilliant wicketkeeper. During his ODI career, he took 299 dismissals, 243 catches, and 56 stumpings, which made him one of the greatest wicketkeepers in the format. His overall contribution to the team assisted Bangladesh in different international competitions, and he was a key player in most of their victories.

The Last ODI Match

Mushfiqur’s last ODI match was when the group stages of the 2025 Champions Trophy saw him turn out against New Zealand with Bangladesh. It was a nadir in an otherwise acclaimed career in a team whose abysmal run in the tournament, as they lost every game they played, signified its poor performance overall. Following the early elimination of the team in the tournament, Mushfiqur made the call to hang up his shoes from ODIs, marking an era’s closing down in the game of cricket in Bangladesh.

A Legacy That Will Last

Mushfiqur Rahim’s retirement from ODIs is a milestone in the history of Bangladesh cricket. His efforts spanning almost two decades have molded the team and inspired numerous players in the nation. One of the greatest wicketkeeper-batsmen in ODI cricket, Mushfiqur leaves behind an enduring legacy.

Even though he has chosen to retire from ODIs, Mushfiqur is not yet done with Test cricket. He recently retired from T20Is after the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup and is currently working towards achieving another milestone in his career: becoming the first Bangladeshi cricketer to play 100 Tests. His dedication to the sport is never faltering, and his impact on Bangladesh cricket will never fade as he continues in his career.

Mushfiqur Rahim’s retirement from ODI brings an era to a close in the history of Bangladesh cricket. His 19-year career in the format, which has been replete with grit, talent, and outstanding performances, will go down as one of the most legendary in the nation’s history.

As Bangladesh cricket continues, Mushfiqur’s legacy will be an integral part of the team’s history, and his contributions will inspire generations of cricketers to come.

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