'My Test career could have been better'

He had announced it earlier, and as of today, Imrul Kayes officially bids farewell to red-ball cricket. The left-handed batsman has retired from Test and first-class cricket. In his farewell match, Imrul received several rounds of 'guard of honour' from his teammates. After the match, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) honoured him with a ceremony.

The batsman, who played 39 Tests, 78 ODIs, and 14 T20Is for Bangladesh, was presented with a memento by the BCB as a token of appreciation. Present at the ceremony were BCB director Nazmul Abedeen Fahim and selector Abdur Razzak, along with Tushar Imran, Syed Rasel, Shuvagata Hom, and Mosaddek Hossain Saikat.

Before receiving the BCB's tribute, Imrul left the field on the shoulders of Enamul Haque Bijoy and Sheikh Parvez Jibon. Although Imrul was overwhelmed by the love, best wishes, and farewell arrangements from the BCB and his teammates, he couldn't mark the occasion with significant performances. Playing for Khulna Division against Dhaka in the National League, he scored just 17 runs across both innings (16 and 1).

However, Imrul harbours no regrets about this. His only regret lies in his Test career. Having scored 1,797 runs in 76 innings at an average of 24.28, including 3 centuries and 4 half-centuries, Imrul reflects that his Test career could have been better. Yet, he is not one to dwell on regrets.

Speaking at a press conference at Mirpur Stadium after his final match, Imrul summarised his red-ball career:
"When I debuted in first-class cricket in 2006, I never thought I would go on to play so many Tests for Bangladesh. And now, the way I am bidding farewell, I feel very happy to have played 39 Test matches for Bangladesh. That is a huge achievement for me."

"Whether you play one Test, fifty Tests, or a hundred Tests, representing Bangladesh is a great honour. I was part of the team for about 10–12 years, playing in different places and countries. That was a matter of great pride for me. I tried to contribute to the team, whether through batting or keeping. Perhaps I could have had a better Test career, but I no longer dwell on what didn't happen. I'm grateful for what I achieved, Alhamdulillah."

As he bid farewell to red-ball cricket, Imrul reminisced about a special moment in ODIs, recalling an experience from the World Cup:
"In the 2011 World Cup, I remember when we defeated England. After the match, as we were returning to the hotel, I still recall that night vividly. Our match ended at 10 pm, but we didn't reach the hotel until 1 am."

"The way people were waiting for us, they wouldn't let us leave; they wanted to celebrate with us. The army had to clear the crowd to let us through. Even in front of the hotel, there were so many people. That night still resonates with me sometimes. It shows how much the people of Bangladesh love cricket and us."

Imrul also feels the sting of not winning a major trophy for the national team, much like his Test career:
"There is one regret... I, alongside Shakib, Mashrafe, Mushfiq, Tamim, and Riyad Bhai, played together for a long time. If we could have brought home a trophy from a major tournament, it would have been wonderful. Apart from bilateral series, we couldn't win any significant trophies for Bangladesh. We won one in Ireland, but had we won something big like the Asia Cup or Nidahas Trophy, it would have been great to end my career on such a note."