Imrul Kayes to retire from Test and first class cricket

The 37-year-old cricketer shared the emotional news through a heartfelt video posted on his social media accounts on Wednesday.

Imrul made his Test debut in 2008 and represented Bangladesh in 39 Test matches, scoring three centuries and four fifties. His final Test appearance came in 2019, and despite expressing a desire to return to the national side, he was not recalled. In his First-class career, spanning 137 matches, Imrul amassed 20 centuries and 27 fifties.

"I am about to make a difficult decision regarding my career," Imrul said in the video. "I am announcing the end of my Test career on November 16th and with that, I am also going to announce the end of my First-class cricket career. This is one of the most difficult and emotional moments in my 17-year journey," he added, reflecting on his long and storied career.

One of the highlights of Imrul's Test career was his 312-run opening stand with Tamim Iqbal, a world record for the highest first-wicket partnership in a third or fourth innings of a Test match. The partnership, set during the Khulna Test against Pakistan in 2015, saw Imrul score a memorable 150, his highest Test score.

As Imrul Kayes prepares to say farewell to the longest formats of the game, he leaves behind a legacy of resilience and memorable performances that have contributed significantly to Bangladesh cricket.