Mohammad Raqibul Hasan, who prefers to be called Nirala, is a former cricket player from Bangladesh. Born on December 25, 1988, Raqibul Hasan was regarded as one of the promising young talents in the country. Despite his relatively short international career, Raqibul showcased his skills as a batsman and proved to be a valuable asset to the team.
Raqibul first gained attention when he was selected for the Bangladesh Under-19 squad for the World Cup in Sri Lanka. Although he was considered one of the more inexperienced players in the team, his ability to build an innings and protect his wicket set him apart from his peers. During this tournament, Raqibul displayed his potential by scoring an impressive 249 runs, including a remarkable innings of 121 against Sri Lanka in only his third match.
After his notable performances in the Under-19 World Cup, Raqibul received a call-up to the senior national team for the ODI series against South Africa in March 2008. This marked his entrance into international cricket, and he immediately made an impact with his composed batting style. Later that year, he was included in the Test squad for Bangladesh’s tour of a foreign land – West Indies. In the first Test of this series, Raqibul played a crucial role, contributing a positive knock of 65 that helped Bangladesh secure their first Test series victory away from home.
Unfortunately, Raqibul’s career faced a setback following the New Zealand tour. He was dropped from the team for the home ODI series against England and was omitted from the 30-man probables list for the World Twenty20. Despite these setbacks, Raqibul’s determination remained unwavering, and he was given another chance when he was selected for Bangladesh’s home series against England in March 2010.
However, just before the first Test of the series, Raqibul shocked his teammates and the cricketing fraternity by announcing his retirement from international cricket. This decision caught everyone off guard, leaving many questioning his motives. However, Raqibul withdrew his retirement statement a week later, and the cricket board included him in the ODI squad to play against England. Although he returned to the national team, the retirement episode had left a mark on his career.
Throughout his international career, Raqibul Hasan demonstrated his capabilities as a consistent batsman. His ability to build an innings and protect his wicket was a valuable asset to the team. Despite his early retirement, Raqibul’s talent and potential cannot be denied.
Raqibul Hasan’s cricketing journey may have been filled with ups and downs, but his contributions to the Bangladesh cricket team, especially during their historic series win in the West Indies, will always be remembered. With his unique skill set, Raqibul left a lasting impression on the cricketing world and remains an inspiration to young cricketers in Bangladesh.
