[CRK]
Rubel Hossain Bids Farewell to International Cricket
Bangladesh fast bowler Rubel Hossain has officially announced his retirement from international cricket. In a heartfelt message to his 3.5 million Facebook followers on Wednesday, the 36-year-old pacer announced that he is bringing a curtain down on a career that spanned 159 international caps across all formats.
Rubel’s final international appearance came in April 2021, during a T20I against New Zealand in Auckland. In the years following that match, injuries have increasingly hindered his ability to perform and maintain the fitness levels required for the international stage, limiting his participation even in domestic cricket.
A Legacy of Pace and Passion
Rubel burst onto the scene in 2009, discovered by former fast-bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake during a countrywide pacer hunt. At the time, Rubel was a raw talent with a slingy bowling action and the rare ability to clock speeds of 140kph, bringing a much-needed injection of pace to the Bangladesh bowling attack.
Rubel’s impact was immediate. He became the first Bangladesh bowler to take four wickets on his ODI debut, producing a 4 for 33 that helped secure a victory against Sri Lanka in Mirpur in 2009. While his journey was not without its setbacks—including a pivotal moment in a tri-series final against the same opponents where he was targeted by Muthiah Muralidaran—Rubel’s resilience and determination remained constant.
Career Highlights and World Cup Glory
Bangladesh fans will long remember Rubel’s most iconic performance. In a 2015 World Cup match in Adelaide, he delivered a match-winning display against England, finishing with 4 for 53. In a stunning burst of pace, he nipped out Ian Bell and Eoin Morgan in the span of just four balls, and later removed Stuart Broad and James Anderson to dismantle England’s middle and lower order.
Other notable achievements include a five-wicket haul in his fifth Test match against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2010. However, the longest format of the game proved to be the most challenging for him. He finished his Test career with 36 wickets in 27 Tests at a high average of 76.77—the highest average among all bowlers who have bowled at least 4,000 deliveries.
Dominance in the Limited-Overs Formats
It was in the One Day International (ODI) format where Rubel Hossain truly thrived. He retires as Bangladesh’s fifth-highest wicket-taker in the format, picking up 129 wickets at an average of 34.31. His record includes seven four-wicket hauls and a remarkable 6 for 26 against New Zealand in 2013, which included a hat-trick.
Rubel’s ability to deliver match-winning spells in the occasion of big games often made him a unique asset for the الوطن (national) team. Interestingly, prototype statistics show that he had taken a hat-trick in a domestic one-day match just a week before his international hat-trick, though he hadn’t realized it at the time.
A Final Message to the Fans
In his retirement announcement, Rubel expressed his passion for the national team. “I am pacer Rubel Hossain. I have played 27 Tests, 104 ODIs and 28 T20Is for Bangladesh,” he wrote. “The national team is my passion. But at some point, I had to leave international cricket. With that in mind, I said goodbye to international cricket. However, I intend to continue playing domestic cricket.”
He concluded his message by thanking his family, friends, media personnel, and the fans who have to support him throughout his career. “I believe that you will continue to support me for the rest of my life,” he added.
Rubel Hossain’s departure marks the end of an era for Bangladesh’s bowling attack, as he is strongly remembered as one of the pioneers of whom the country has produced raw pace, bringing excitement and energy to the bowling crease.
