Mushfiqur Rahim Gets ‘Guard of Honor’ in Mirpur After ODI Retirement
Although Mushfiqur Rahim couldn’t bid farewell to ODI cricket on the field, he received a well-deserved ‘Guard of Honor’ just a day after announcing his retirement.
With nearly an hour left before the match began, Mushfiq arrived early for warm-ups, as he always does. But this time, things were different. While his teammates entered the field, he was held back near the boundary line. Moments later, it became clear why.
Lining up in two rows, the cricketers of Mohammedan Sporting Club formed a passage for the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman, welcoming him with respect as he walked onto the field—an emotional tribute to his incredible ODI career.
A Fitting Tribute After an Illustrious Career
Mushfiq, one of Bangladesh’s greatest contributors to ODI success, didn’t get a farewell match with the national team. However, a day after his announcement, the Bangladesh Premier League match provided a fitting moment of honor.
From the very beginning of his career, Mushfiq has been known for his discipline and relentless work ethic. Even after retiring from ODIs, that didn’t change. Late Wednesday night, he made his decision official, and by Thursday morning, he was back on the field, ready to play for Mohammedan in the Dhaka Premier League at nearly 38 years of age.
As the match against Rupganj Tigers approached, both teams arrived at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla Stadium shortly after 8 AM.
Despite the emotional weight of his retirement, Mushfiq appeared cheerful during warm-ups, playing football with teammates and laughing as usual. There were no visible signs that he had just closed a significant chapter of his career less than nine hours earlier.
Praise from Tamim
During the toss, Mohammedan’s captain and longtime teammate Tamim Iqbal showered Mushfiq with praise.
“Mushfiqur Rahim is a great ambassador of Bangladesh cricket. His achievements are unmatched and will be remembered for years. Bangladesh has had many great cricketers, but if anyone needs a role model, it should be Mushfiqur Rahim.”
A Familiar Farewell Pattern
In 2022, Mushfiq announced his T20I retirement through social media after the Asia Cup. Now, two and a half years later, he chose the same quiet, personal approach for ODIs. His last match in the format turned out to be Bangladesh’s ICC Champions Trophy clash against New Zealand.
Following a couple of underwhelming performances in the tournament, criticism had started to mount. Instead of responding to the noise, Mushfiq returned home and made his decision.
Just like in T20Is, he didn’t get to bow out from the field in ODIs either. Had things been different, he might have received a ‘Guard of Honor’ from his national teammates. But even if that didn’t happen, his Mohammedan teammates made sure to honor him the very next day.
A Farewell Among Familiar Faces
Several of his Bangladesh teammates were part of that tribute—Tamim Iqbal, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Towhid Hridoy, Ebadot Hossain, Rony Talukdar, and Abu Hider all stood in line to honor the veteran.
Later in the match, Mushfiq kept wickets for the full 50 overs, just as active and vocal as ever. He constantly guided the bowlers and even helped Tamim set the field.
At one point, after the fall of the fourth Rupganj wicket, a stump mic caught Mushfiq joking with a teammate:
“Let them score a few more runs, or you won’t get a chance to bat later.”
Despite the laughs, Mushfiq remained sharp behind the stumps, finishing with two stumpings and a catch.
Had he managed three dismissals in his last ODI, he would have reached the 300-mark in international cricket. That milestone is now out of reach, but he did achieve it in List A cricket the very next day—a quiet but fitting reminder of his enduring excellence.
