Pacer Rubel retires from international cricket

Bangladesh fast bowler Rubel Hossain announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday, ending a career defined by dramatic high points in limited-over formats and significant struggles in the Test arena.

The 36-year-old, known for his slinging action, shared the decision on his social media accounts, UNB reports.

He expressed his intention to continue playing domestic cricket, though he has not featured in an international match since a T20 against New Zealand in April 2021.

“The national team is my emotion, but I had to say goodbye to international cricket at some point,” Rubel said. “However, I wish to continue playing in domestic tournaments.”

Emerging from a pace-bowling talent hunt, Rubel debuted in January 2009 against Sri Lanka, becoming the first Bangladeshi bowler to take four wickets on his ODI debut. He proved most effective in the ODI format, claiming a total of 129 wickets in 104 matches.

His career-defining moment came during the 2015 World Cup in Adelaide, where his aggressive late spell against England secured Bangladesh's first-ever quarterfinal berth. He also recorded a hat-trick against New Zealand in Dhaka in 2013, taking 6-26, which remains tied for the best ODI bowling figures by a Bangladeshi player.

Rubel’s performance in other formats was markedly less impactful. He took 36 wickets in 27 test matches with an average of 76.77, the highest bowling average in test history among players with more than 20 wickets.

In T20 internationals, he claimed 28 wickets in as many matches while conceding nearly 9.5 runs per over.

His international tenure also included significant off-field legal issues. Rubel spent time in jail following personal allegations prior to the 2015 World Cup, eventually securing bail to travel to Australia for the tournament.

Despite his stated desire to extend his domestic career, Rubel’s recent participation at that level has been minimal. He has played only one domestic match in the past two years, with his last appearance occurring approximately 15 months ago.