BCB felicitate Rubel ahead of New Zealand ODI

The Bangladesh Cricket Board on Monday gave veteran fast bowler Rubel Hossain a formal send-off following his retirement from international cricket, ahead of the second ODI against New Zealand.

Rubel's former teammates gathered at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium to mark his retirement. It was an emotional affair as he walked to the middle of the ground accompanied by his young son.

The right-arm pacer had last represented Bangladesh at the international level in 2021 and last week formally announced his retirement from international cricket through a post on social media.

The BCB organised the pre-match ceremony with current players in attendance, alongside ad-hoc committee chairman Tamim Iqbal, who presented Rubel with a framed jersey and a commemorative crest in recognition of his services to Bangladesh cricket.

"After I announced my retirement, BCB president Tamim Iqbal called me personally and expressed his wish to honour me. It was a source of immense pride. The manner in which everything was organised and the recognition extended to me – I am genuinely grateful to the Bangladesh Cricket Board and its president," Rubel said.

The 36-year-old acknowledged the decisive influence of coach Sarwar Imran, who had spotted and nurtured his talent after he was identified through the Paceman Hunt initiative. "There is one person I must single out – my respected coach Sarwar Imran, who played an extraordinary role in my career. I will carry that debt of gratitude with me for the rest of my life," Rubel said.

Across his international career, Rubel appeared in 27 Tests, 104 ODIs and 28 Twenty20 internationals, claiming a combined tally of 193 wickets. The defining chapter of his career came at the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, where two wickets in consecutive deliveries against England sealed a historic victory and propelled Bangladesh into the knockout rounds. Fellow pacer Taskin Ahmed described it as one of the most memorable passages of play from that entire tournament.