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Imrul Kayes is still eyeing a return to the limited-over formats after the 37-year-old bid farewell to the longer version of the game on Monday.

The left-handed opener earlier announced that he would retire from first-class cricket after the fifth-round match of the National Cricket League. 

Imrul’s Khulna were defeated inside the three days by Dhaka at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. The southpaw scored 16 and one in two innings before bowling 1.2 overs.

He was felicitated by the BCB before being carried off the field by his team-mates. 

Imrul played 138 first-class matches, including 39 Tests, and scored 7,947 runs at an average of 33.53 with 20 centuries.

He last played for the national team in 2019, in a Test against India. The left-handed opener’s last limited-over international match was in 2018. 

But after retiring from the longer version, he’s still hopeful about a comeback. 

‘I’ve said it before that I’d play in the DPL and the BPL. I’ll play in the NCL T20. Of course I’ll try to [make a comeback] as I’ve not retired from the one-dayers,’ Imrul told reporters after his last match at Mirpur.

Imrul said that he would be settled in Australia, where his family now reside. But he wants to be with cricket after retiring from all formats.

But now his focus will only be to enjoy cricket. 

‘Premier Division is coming up. I’ll try to enjoy cricket. I’ll try to perform well in the BPL. Wherever I play, if I don’t score runs, then there’ll be no satisfaction. I’ll try to get that satisfaction.’ 

Imrul, though, said that his Test career could’ve been longer. But he doesn’t have any regrets.

‘When I made my FC debut in 2006, I didn’t think that I’d play so many Tests for Bangladesh. And

the way I retired, I’m very happy that I played 39 Tests for Bangladesh. It’s a big achievement for me,’ he said.

‘I tried to contribute, with batting or keeping—whatever that is. My Test career might have been longer. But I don’t regret whatever didn’t happen. Whatever happened, Alhamdulillah’, he added. 

Test opener Imrul will always be remembered for the record opening partnership of 312 runs with Tamim Iqbal against Pakistan in Khulna in 2015, where he scored 150 off 240 balls after having kept the wickets for 120 overs.

Bangladesh earned a memorable draw against Pakistan in that game. 

Imrul, who regarded Tamim as his best opening partner, reflected on

that innings and stated, ‘We were on the verge of defeat.’ When our partnership reached the hundred mark, Tamim told me, ‘Dost, me and you could draw the match. I know it would be difficult, but if we work hard enough, we will be able to save the match.’