Bangladesh's Raqibul Hasan retires at 22

Dhaka:

In a shock move, Bangladesh's young middle order batsman Raqibul Hasan has retired from all forms of cricket ahead of the country's first Test match against England, an official said on Wednesday.

Hasan, 22, hit an unbeaten century and a half century in the three-day practice match against England and was a certainty against the visitors in the first Test match beginning in Chittagong on Friday.

"He wrote a letter to us this morning, withdrawing himself from the Test series against England. He also announced his retirement from all forms of cricket," Bangladesh Cricket Board director Jalal Yunus said.

"It has stunned us. He is a brilliant cricketer and played two superb knocks against England just days back. Coach Jamie Siddons and Raqibul's parents tried to change his mind. But he is adamant," he said.

Hasan made Test and one-day debuts in 2008 and has played seven Test matches and 41 One-Day Internationals. He is the only player in the Bangladeshi
team to have hit a triple century in first class cricket.