Imrul Kayes Reflects on Career and Retirement in a Press Conference

Imrul Kayes, unable to finish his Test career with a victory, saw his final match end in a defeat. In his last first-class match, Dhaka Division defeated Khulna Division by 9 wickets. After the end of his long career, Imrul Kayes opened up about his achievements and regrets in a press conference at Mirpur.

He said, "When I made my first-class debut in 2006, I never thought I would play so many Test matches for the Bangladesh national team. Now, as I retire, I am very happy that I have played 39 Test matches for Bangladesh. This is a huge achievement for me. Whether you play one Test, fifty Tests, or a hundred Tests, representing Bangladesh is the most significant thing. I have been part of the team for almost 10-12 years, playing in various places and countries. This has been a matter of great pride for me. I have always tried to contribute to the team, whether through batting or wicketkeeping. Perhaps my Test career could have been better, but I don’t regret what didn’t happen. Whatever has happened, Alhamdulillah. I feel lucky to have been a part of these moments, across all three formats."

Although he has bid farewell to Test and first-class cricket, Imrul has not yet retired from One-Day Internationals (ODIs) or T20s. He hopes to continue playing for a few more years in domestic cricket and franchise T20 or ODI leagues, provided he maintains his fitness.

“To play T20s and ODIs, you need a certain level of fitness. If I keep working on my fitness, I might be able to play for a few more years. But to play four-day matches, you need a certain level of strength and mental toughness. I feel that now, if I cannot keep up with the younger players, I will feel bad about myself. A young player runs after the ball with so much energy, and I can’t keep up with him. That’s when I realized I’m not on the right path. T20s and ODIs are shorter formats, and you can give your full energy in a day. But in four-day matches, it’s much harder. That’s why I thought I should move on."

Imrul Kayes considers Shakib Al Hasan as Bangladesh's best captain. "It’s a tough question… best coach, best captain. I have played with everyone, from Mushfiq to Ashraful Bhai, and even played under Mashrafe Bhai. Overall, if you ask me who has been the best captain for Bangladesh, I would say Shakib Al Hasan. Under his captaincy, I understood my role better. He would have open discussions with me about my role and how I should play."

Imrul also regards the former Bangladesh coach, Chandika Hathurusingha, as the best coach he has worked with. "Chandika Hathurusingha, I will say again, was the best coach. He may have been questioned by many, but technically, he was a very good coach. His attitude was problematic for many, and he didn’t get along with everyone. But as a batsman, I learned a lot from him. So, in that regard, these two—Shakib as captain and Hathurusingha as coach—were the best for me."