Mohammad Rafique (cricketer) facts for kids

Mohammed Rafique (Bengali: মোহাম্মদ রফিক, born 5 September 1970) is a Bangladeshi cricket coach and a former amazing cricketer. He was the very first bowler from Bangladesh to take 100 wickets in both Test matches and ODI matches.

Rafique is famous for his important contributions to Bangladesh Cricket. He played for the World XI team against Australia in 2005. He also played for the Asia XI team in a special series against Africa XI in 2007. In 2020-21, he was chosen to be the captain of the Bangladesh Legends cricket team for the Road Safety World Series. In January 2022, Rafique joined the Asia Lions team in the Legends League Cricket. There, he took 2 wickets against India Maharajas.

Playing for Teams in Bangladesh

Mohammed Rafique started his cricket journey in 1985. He began as a left-arm fast bowler for a team called Bangladesh Sporting. In 1988, he joined the Bangladesh Biman cricket team. There, a Pakistani player named Wasim Haider helped him change his bowling style. Rafique became a slow left-arm spin bowler, which is what he became famous for.

Early Matches and Success

In December 1994, Rafique played for Bangladesh in a cricket tournament called the SAARC tournament. He did very well, taking 3 wickets for only 25 runs. This helped Bangladesh win against India "A".

He was also a key player for the Bangladesh team that won the 1997 ICC Trophy. This was a very important win for Bangladesh cricket. In that tournament, he took 19 wickets in 9 matches. His best performance was taking 4 wickets for 25 runs in the semi-final against Scotland. Along with his spin partner Enamul Haque Moni, he took 12 wickets. In the final match against Kenya, he also scored a quick 26 runs from just 15 balls.

Playing for Dhaka Division

For many years, Rafique played first-class cricket for the Dhaka Division. He was a star player in the Big Boss T20 Premier League. He even helped his team, Abahani Limited, win the final match with a great performance.

Playing for Bangladesh Internationally

Mohammed Rafique was a slow-left-arm spin bowler. He was one of the few Bangladeshi players to be ranked among the top 50 bowlers in the world by the ICC. He became a regular player for the national team and was a well-known name in Bangladesh. He achieved a special record by taking 100 wickets and scoring 1000 runs in both Test and ODI cricket.

Test Cricket Debut

Rafique was one of the most experienced players in the Bangladesh team. He was chosen to play in Bangladesh's very first Test match against India. In this historic match, he showed his talent by taking three wickets.

Overcoming Challenges

Early in his career, Rafique faced a challenge when his bowling action was questioned. This meant he was out of the national team for a while. However, he worked hard to fix his bowling style and returned to cricket in 2002. His comeback was strong, as he took six wickets in a Test match against South Africa. He was also the top wicket-taker for Bangladesh in a home Test series against India. He was also the second-highest wicket-taker during a tour in Zimbabwe.

Batting Skills

Rafique was also known for being a useful batsman, especially in the lower batting order. He could hit the ball hard and score runs quickly. In May 1998, he scored 77 runs against Kenya in Hyderabad, India. This helped Bangladesh win their first-ever ODI match against Kenya. In that same match, he also took three wickets for 56 runs and was named the "man of the match" for his all-around performance. He also scored a century (100 runs) in a Test match against the West Indies. In 2005–06, he scored 65 runs against Australia, which included hitting six sixes!

World Cup Performance

Rafique played a big part in Bangladesh winning a series against Kenya. He also had his best bowling figures in a Test match against Australia, a game Bangladesh almost won. He had a successful 2007 World Cup, taking eight wickets. His bowling helped Bangladesh win important games against India and South Africa in that tournament.

Retirement and Legacy

Mohammed Rafique announced his retirement from international cricket on 7 February 2008. His last matches for the national team were during Bangladesh's home series against South Africa. On 1 March 2008, during the second Test match, he made history. He became the first Bangladeshi player to take 100 Test wickets when he got Robin Peterson out. Rafique was also the first Bangladeshi player among 53 cricketers worldwide to score 1,000 runs and take 100 wickets in Test cricket.