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.

Former Bangladesh cricketer Imrul Kayes has strongly condemned Virender Sehwag's recent criticism of Shakib Al Hasan, calling it disrespectful and unwarranted. Sehwag had criticized Shakib's performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, suggesting that he should retire and remember his Bangladeshi identity.Kayes, in an interview with CricFrenzy, expressed his disappointment with Sehwag's comments. He pointed out that legendary cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid would never make such disrespectful remarks. Kayes believes that Sehwag's lack of respect stems from his own experiences during his playing career."I don't know how a legendary cricketer like him thinks when he says such things," Kayes said. "You won't see Sachin-Dravid talking like this because they give that respect to players. Since he didn't get that respect in his career, he doesn't know how to give that respect to other players."Kayes also criticized Sehwag's previous comments about Bangladesh cricket, saying that he has consistently made disparaging remarks about the country's cricket environment and ability. However, Kayes pointed out that Bangladesh has proven Sehwag wrong by taking 20 wickets in Test cricket.Kayes praised Shakib Al Hasan for his achievements, emphasizing that he is a respected and accomplished cricketer. He believes that such players deserve to be treated with respect, regardless of their recent form."Shakib did not become Shakib Al Hasan in one or two days," Kayes said. "If you look at his career, you will see many achievements. He has been the number one all-rounder in all three formats for a long time. I think such cricketers should be spoken about with respect."Kayes' comments highlight the importance of respect and sportsmanship in cricket. He believes that legendary players should set a positive example for younger generations and avoid making disrespectful remarks about other players.