‘Your legacy will live on’: Tamim Iqbal bids farewell to Mushfiqur Rahim

Bangladesh cricket endured another emotional moment as Mushfiqur Rahim announced his retirement from One-Day Internationals on 5 March. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter, who had been a mainstay of the national side for nearly two decades, shared his decision on social media, drawing heartfelt reactions from fans and teammates alike. Among those most deeply moved was Tamim Iqbal, who has shared a long and storied cricketing journey with Mushfiqur.

Tamim, who himself retired from international cricket recently, posted a video message on his Facebook page, reflecting on his bond with Mushfiqur. "Today, a person retired with whom I've had almost a 20-25-year journey. It's impossible to express my feelings for him through a simple status," said Tamim.

Recalling their early days, Tamim said, "Our journey started from Under-15 cricket. I've seen him work so hard, evolving from a simple batter to one of Bangladesh's finest. He has always given his best—perhaps as much as any human possibly could."

Known for his tireless work ethic, Mushfiqur's dedication to the game often became a topic of light-hearted banter among his peers. Tamim admitted, "We would sometimes joke about how much he works. But his dedication and love for cricket are beyond words. I know how hard it is for him to make this decision, and as his close friend, I can feel his pain."

Tamim also expressed his wish to see Mushfiqur reach a significant milestone in Test cricket. "I hope you play your 100th Test match—something no Bangladeshi cricketer has achieved yet," he added.

Mushfiqur's ODI career began in 2006, and over the next 19 years, he played 274 matches. In his farewell message, Mushfiqur wrote, "Today I announce my retirement from the ODI format. Alhamdulillah for everything. While our achievements as a team might seem limited globally, I can say that whenever I represented my country, I gave my all with dedication and integrity."

Reflecting on the challenges leading to his decision, he added, "The last few weeks have been very challenging for me, and I realised this was my destiny." He concluded his message with a Quranic verse: "He gives honour to whom He wills and humiliates whom He wills" (Surah Al Imran, 3:26).

Other teammates also shared their emotions following Mushfiqur's retirement. Taskin Ahmed wrote on Facebook, "It's hard to imagine Bangladesh's ODI cricket without you. Your dedication, fighting spirit, and boundless inspiration will always be a benchmark for us. It was an honour to share the field with you and learn from you."

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Mushfiq bhai, for inspiring millions." Soumya Sarkar added, "Retirement is not the end—it's just the beginning of a new chapter."

With the cricket world bidding farewell to Mushfiqur's ODI career, Tamim's words perhaps summed up the sentiment best: "Your journey as a player and captain has been incredible. Everything you've done for Bangladesh will echo in the history of the game for many years."