Bangladesh fast bowler Rubel Hossain has announced his retirement from international cricket, concluding a career that spanned more than a decade and included 159 appearances for the national team.
The 36-year-old confirmed the decision in a message posted on social media, stating that while the national team remained his passion, the time had come to step away from international duties. “I am pacer Rubel Hossain. I have played 27 Tests, 104 ODIs and 28 T20Is for Bangladesh,” he wrote on Facebook. “The national team is my passion. But at some point, I had to leave international cricket. With that in mind, I said goodbye to international cricket. However, I intend to continue playing domestic cricket. Thank you to my family, friends, media personnel and fans. I believe that you will continue to support me for the rest of my life.”
Rubel featured in 27 Tests, 104 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 28 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), building a reputation as a reliable limited-overs bowler. His final international appearance was in April 2021 during a T20I match against New Zealand in Auckland.
Despite injuries limiting his participation in recent years, he expressed his intention to continue his career in domestic cricket.
One of the highlights of his career occurred during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in Adelaide, where he played a decisive role against England. He took four wickets for 53 runs, dismissing Ian Bell, captain Eoin Morgan, Stuart Broad, and James Anderson in quick succession.
Rubel emerged in 2009 after being identified through a nationwide pace-hunting programme led by then-Bangladesh bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake. Known for his slingy bowling action and ability to bowl at speeds exceeding 140 km/h, he made an immediate impact by becoming the first Bangladesh bowler to take four wickets on ODI debut, recording figures of 4 for 33 against Sri Lanka.
Although his Test career was challenging, he took 36 wickets in 27 matches. However, it was in ODIs where Rubel excelled, claiming 129 wickets at an average of 34.31, ranking among Bangladesh’s leading wicket-takers in the format. Notable performances include a six-wicket haul for 26 runs against New Zealand in 2013, which included a hat-trick.
In his farewell message, Rubel expressed his gratitude to his family, teammates, media, and fans for their support throughout his career and hoped that their encouragement would continue as he focuses on domestic cricket.