Bangladesh's experienced left-handed opener Imrul Kayes has officially retired from Test and first-class cricket, marking the end of an impactful career spanning nearly two decades.

In a heartfelt Facebook post, Kayes expressed his gratitude to fans, writing, “Good bye Test cricket. I'm grateful for all the love. Ending my Test Career, Thank you, to all my fans for showing their love and support always!” The left-handed batsman played his last Test for Bangladesh in 2019 against India. Since then, he has continued performing in the domestic circuit but had not returned to the national Test lineup.

Imrul’s career statistics illustrate his significant contributions to Bangladesh cricket. In 39 Tests, he scored 1,797 runs with an average of 24.28, including three centuries and four half-centuries. His highest Test score of 150 showcased his ability to play crucial knocks for his team. He also contributed to Bangladesh’s ODI and T20I formats, accumulating 2,434 runs in 78 ODIs and playing 14 T20Is. In domestic cricket, Imrul was a fixture, scoring 7,930 runs in 137 first-class matches with 20 centuries and 27 fifties.

Imrul will play his final first-class match for Khulna Division in the National Cricket League (NCL) on November 16. He scored a half-century in the second innings of the last match.