Imrul Kayes Retires from Test and First-Class Cricket

Imrul Kayes, the veteran Bangladeshi opener, has announced his retirement from Test and first-class cricket. The 34-year-old made the emotional announcement in a video message on his Facebook page, stating that his last red-ball match will be Khulna Division's National Cricket League (NCL) match against Dhaka Division at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka next week.

Kayes' Test career spanned 39 matches, with his last appearance coming in the historic day-night Test against India at Eden Gardens in 2019. Batting primarily at the top of the order, he amassed 1797 runs at an average of 24.28, including three centuries and four fifties.

However, Kayes' Test career was most notable for his prolific opening partnership with Tamim Iqbal. Together, they formed Bangladesh's most successful opening pair, accumulating 2336 runs in 53 innings. Their average first-wicket partnership of 45.80 is also the best among any Bangladesh opening pair.

Kayes and Iqbal shared four century stands, including a memorable 185-run partnership at Lord's in 2010 and a world-record 312 against Pakistan in Khulna in 2015. The latter partnership helped Bangladesh save the Test match after conceding a 296-run first-innings lead, and remains the only 300-plus opening stand in the third or fourth innings of a Test match.

Kayes' first-class career has also been impressive, with the left-hander just 70 runs short of the 8000-run mark. He will have the opportunity to reach this milestone in his farewell game in Mirpur, which begins on November 16.

Kayes' retirement marks the end of an era for Bangladesh cricket. He was a key member of the team that achieved Test status in 2000 and played a significant role in their subsequent rise in the international arena. His contributions to Bangladesh cricket will be fondly remembered by fans and players alike.

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