Dhaka: Imrul Kayes officially retired from Test and first-class cricket today, stating that he is leaving this format of the game with no regrets. Despite stepping away from the longer format, Kayes will continue to participate in white-ball cricket.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Kayes expressed the challenges he faced during his Test career, highlighting the uncertainty of his place in the team. “What made it difficult for me was that I never knew if I’d play the next match or be part of the next series. But at the end, I have no regrets,” Kayes told reporters after his final first-class match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. He reiterated his commitment to white-ball cricket, stating, “I’ll continue to play in BPL, DPL, and T20s in NCL. My target is to perform well in the upcoming white-ball cricket and enjoy my cricket.”
Kayes’s farewell match saw his team, Khulna, suffer a nine-wicket defeat to Dhaka within three days. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) marked his retirement wi
th a farewell ceremony, presenting him with a crest as a token of appreciation.
Throughout his career, Kayes was seen as a long-term prospect for the Bangladesh Test team but faced inconsistency in selection, managing to represent his country in 39 Test matches. Reflecting on his career, Kayes said, “What happened with me, it was all destined and so there is no point of talking about this at this moment. I have never claimed that I was perfect but I think I could have performed better. Maybe I had got more opportunities if I performed well.”
Kayes began his Test career in 2008 against South Africa, scoring a total of 14 runs in his debut match. His last Test appearance was against India at Eden Gardens in 2019, where he scored 9 runs across two innings. Over his Test career, he amassed 1,797 runs at an average of 24.28, including three centuries and four half-centuries.
In the ODI format, Kayes has scored 2,434 runs in 78 matches at an average of 32.02, with four centuries and 16 fifties. He also played 14
T20 Internationals, scoring 119 runs. His first-class career, beginning in 2006, saw him accumulate 7,930 runs at an average of 33.74, with 20 centuries and 27 half-centuries.
Looking forward, Kayes plans to settle in Australia, where his family resides. “Nowadays, I mostly reside in Australia because of my family who stays there. I’m currently playing Premier Division cricket for a local Australian team. I’m also planning to start a coaching academy there,” he shared.