Mushfiqur Rahim questioned his T20I retirement, emphasizing the importance of fitness over age and asserting confidence in his abilities compared to younger players.
In a recent revelation, veteran Bangladeshi cricketer Mushfiqur Rahim hinted at feeling coerced into retiring from T20 Internationals, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding his departure from the format. Despite retiring on September 4, 2022, just three days after Bangladesh’s elimination from the Asia Cup, Mushfiqur clarified that he holds no regrets regarding his decision. However, his remarks after being named Player of the Match in Fortune Barishal’s victory over Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League Qualifier 2 suggested a deeper narrative behind his retirement.
During a post-match press conference, Mushfiqur expressed his sentiments, raising questions about whether his retirement from T20Is was truly voluntary. His statements have sparked discussions regarding the management of Bangladesh cricket.
Furthermore, Mushfiqur emphasized the importance of fitness over age in cricket, asserting confidence in his abilities compared to younger players.
“No. No, what’s there to regret? You are saying this (about game sense) after I played well. No one said that before. I only want one question. Did I retire from T20s? Did I do it of my own will? That’s all I have to say. That time when I retired in T20s, just look at the month before that, that’s all I have to say,” Mushfiqur said as quoted by The Daily Star.
“No, actually it does not motivate me. I feel bad. Because right now if you bring a lot of young players in front of me, I am certain they won’t be anywhere near my level of fitness. I can write that down. I think instead of seeing age and performance, bigger factor is fitness and performance. Age is just a number,” he added.
Rahim has been a standout performer in this season’s BPL, ranking fifth in run-scoring with 367 runs at an average of 33.36. His crucial knocks, including a match-winning innings against Rangpur Riders, have propelled Fortune Barishal to the BPL final.
Last Updated on February 29, 2024
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