Imrul Kayes

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Imrul Kayes

| image = Imrul Kayes (1) (cropped).jpg

| country = Bangladesh

| fullname = Imrul Kayes

| nickname = Sagar, ইম্রুল ব্রো

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|02|02|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Meherpur, Khulna, Bangladesh

| heightft = 5

| heightinch = 7

| batting = Left-handed

| bowling = Slow left-arm orthodox

| role = Opening batsman, occasional wicket-keeper

| international = true

| internationalspan = 2008–2019

| testdebutdate = 19 November

| testdebutyear = 2008

| testdebutagainst = South Africa

| testcap = 53

| lasttestdate = 22 November

| lasttestyear = 2019

| lasttestagainst = India

| odidebutdate = 14 October

| odidebutyear = 2008

| odidebutagainst = New Zealand

| odicap = 93

| lastodidate = 11 December

| lastodiyear = 2018

| lastodiagainst = West Indies

| odishirt = 45

| T20Icap =26

| T20Idebutagainst = Pakistan

| T20Idebutdate = 1 May

| T20Idebutyear = 2010

| lastT20Iagainst = South Africa

| lastT20Idate = 29 October

| lastT20Iyear = 2017

| club1 = Khulna Division

| year1 = {{nowrap|2006–2024}}

| club2 = Sylhet Royals

| year2 = 2012

| club3 = Rangpur Riders

| year3 = 2013

| club4 = Comilla Victorians

| year4 = 2015–2019

| club5 = Chattogram Challengers

| year5 = 2019/20

| club6 = Comilla Victorians

| year6 = 2022–2024

| club7 = Khulna Tigers

| year7 = 2025

| columns = 4

| column1 = Test

| matches1 = 39

| runs1= 1,797

| bat avg1= 24.28

| 100s/50s1= 3/4

| top score1= 150

| deliveries1 = 24

| wickets1 = 0

| bowl avg1 = –

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = –

| catches/stumpings1= 35/0

| column2 = ODI

| matches2 = 78

| runs2= 2,434

| bat avg2= 32.02

| 100s/50s2= 4/16

| top score2= 144

| deliveries2 = 0

| wickets2 = –

| bowl avg2 = –

| fivefor2 = –

| tenfor2 = –

| best bowling2 = –

| catches/stumpings2= 21/0

| column3 = FC

| matches3 = 138

| runs3= 7,947

| bat avg3= 33.53

| 100s/50s3= 20/27

| top score3= 204

| deliveries3 = 367

| wickets3 = 6

| bowl avg3 = 43.33

| fivefor3 = 0

| tenfor3 = 0

| best bowling3 = 1/0

| catches/stumpings3= 125/0

| column4 = LA

| matches4 = 242

| runs4= 7,952

| bat avg4= 34.72

| 100s/50s4= 14/51

| top score4= 144

| deliveries4 = 137

| wickets4 = 2

| bowl avg4 = 63.50

| fivefor4 = 0

| tenfor4 = 0

| best bowling4 = 2/18

| catches/stumpings4= 92/2

| date = 14 June

| year = 2025

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/280734.html ESPNcricinfo

| caption = Imrul Kayes in 2018

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's Cricket}}

{{MedalCountry |{{BAN}} }}

}}

Imrul Kayes ({{langx|bn|ইমরুল কায়েস}}; born 2 February 1987) is a former Bangladeshi international cricketer and former captain of Comilla Victorians who played for Khulna Division as a left-handed batsman and occasional wicket-keeper.

International career

Kayes made his first-class debut in 2006, playing 15 first-class matches and 16 One Day matches before being called up for the third One Day International between Bangladesh and New Zealand in Chittagong. Batting at number three, he made just 12 runs as Bangladesh lost by 79 runs.[http://bbb.cricketworld.com/Scorecards/179/179923/179923_bbb.html Bangladesh v New Zealand in 2008/9] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017085508/http://bbb.cricketworld.com/Scorecards/179/179923/179923_bbb.html |date=17 October 2008 }}, Cricket World, 14 October 2008

He made his Test debut in November 2008, playing the first match of a series in South Africa.{{cite web |url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/rsavbdesh/content/current/story/378725.html |title=ESPNcricinfo – South Africa must show aggressive intent |work=ESPNcricinfo |date=18 November 2008 |access-date=19 November 2008 |archive-date=11 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711234346/http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/rsavbdesh/content/current/story/378725.html |url-status=live}} He opened the batting on debut, but made just 10 and 4 in his two innings, being dismissed twice on the second afternoon of the match.

He found form in 2010, scoring 867 runs and becoming the 5th highest runs scorer of the year in ODIs{{Cite web |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?class=2;id=2010;type=year |title=5th highest runs scorer of the year in ODIs |access-date=18 February 2011 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115064012/https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?class=2;id=2010;type=year |url-status=live}} at an average of 32.11. He scored his maiden ODI century{{Cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/423785.html |title=maiden ODI century |access-date=18 February 2011 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115064132/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/13364/scorecard/423785/new-zealand-vs-bangladesh-3rd-odi-bangladesh-tour-of-new-zealand-2009-10 |url-status=live}} against New Zealand. When the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced its list of central contracts in November 2010, Imrul Kayes was given a grade B contract.{{citation |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/story/484743.html |title=Ashraful handed top-level central contract |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=1 November 2010 |access-date=1 April 2012 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115064123/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22507282/mohammad-ashraful-handed-top-level-central-contract |url-status=live}}

In 2017, in the second test against New Zealand after Mushfiqur Rahim got head injury in the first test, Imrul Kayes served as a substitute wicket-keeper and he had 5 dismissals in an innings, which is also the most for any substitute wicketkeeper in an innings of a test and was also the first substitute wicket-keeper to take 5 test catches.{{Cite news |title=Substitute wicketkeeper Imrul Kayes sets world record |url=https://bdnews24.com/cricket/substitute-wicketkeeper-imrul-kayes-sets-world-record |access-date=7 May 2021 |work=Bdnews24 |date=15 January 2017}}

On 21 October 2018, Imrul Kayes scored a career best 144(140) against Zimbabwe in the first ODI, tying it with second most by a Bangladeshi batsman in an ODI along with Mushfiqur Rahim. After the concluding third ODI, Imrul Kayes had scored 349 runs in the series with scores of 144, 90, and 115, respectively, which would help Bangladesh whitewash Zimbabwe in the series. He accomplished the feat of making the second most runs in a bilateral three match ODI series, just 11 runs shy from current record holder Babar Azam.

In May 2021, he was named in Bangladesh's ODI preliminary squad for their home series against Sri Lanka, since he last played an ODI against the Windies in 2018.{{Cite web|title=Bangladesh announces preliminary squad for Sri Lanka series|url=https://unb.com.bd/amp/category/Sports/bcb-announces-preliminary-squad-for-sri-lankas-tour-of-bangladesh/|access-date=7 May 2021|website=United News of Bangladesh}}{{Cite web|title=Imrul Kayes picked in Bangladesh's preliminary squad for Sri Lanka ODIs|url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/117321/imrul-kayes-picked-in-bangladeshs-preliminary-squad-for-sri-lanka-odis|access-date=8 May 2021|website=Cricbuzz|date=May 2021 |language=en}}

=2011 World Cup=

Bangladesh failed to progress beyond the group stage of the 2011 World Cup; Imrul Kayes was Bangladesh's leading run-scorer in the tournament with 188 runs at an average of 37.60.{{cite web |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=4857;type=tournament |title=ICC Cricket World Cup, 2010/11 / Records / Most runs |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=10 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902073331/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=4857%3Btype%3Dtournament |archive-date=2 September 2011 }} During the tournament, he produced two Man-of-the-Match performances, striking fifties against England and the Netherlands to help Bangladesh to victory on each occasion, though he felt bowler Shafiul Islam deserved the first award instead. With Manjural Islam Rana he became just the second Bangladesh player to win consecutive Man-of-the-Match awards in ODIs.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/story/506222.html |title=Shakib hails Shafiul as key |first=Sidharth |last=Monga |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=14 March 2011 |access-date=10 October 2011 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115063944/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22457592/bang-v-netherlands,-world-cup-2011-shakib-al-hasan-hails-shafiul-islam-key- |url-status=live}}

Domestic career

The BCB founded the six-team Bangladesh Premier League in 2012, a twenty20 tournament to be held in February that year.{{citation |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/story/547222.html |title=Bangladesh Premier League to begin on February 9 |first=Tariq |last=Engineer |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=28 December 2011 |access-date=20 January 2012 |archive-date=1 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001125400/http://www.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/story/547222.html |url-status=live}} An auction was held for teams to buy players,{{citation |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/story/550096.html |title=Afridi and Gayle fetch highest BPL prices |first=Mohammad |last=Isam |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=19 January 2012 |access-date=20 January 2012 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115063944/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22342534/bangladesh-premier-league-2012-shahid-afridi,-chris-gayle-fetch-highest-bpl-prices |url-status=live}} and Imrul Kayes was bought by the Sylhet Royals for $50,000.{{citation |url=http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/DOWNLOAD/0000/0091/BPL_list.pdf |title=Bangladesh Premier League: players standing after auction |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=20 January 2012}} He scored 102 runs from 7 innings in the competition.{{citation |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh-premier-league-2012/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=7188;type=tournament |title=Bangladesh Premier League, 2011/12 / Records / Most runs |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=21 March 2012 |archive-date=13 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213213322/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh-premier-league-2012/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=7188%3Btype%3Dtournament |url-status=live}} In April the BCB upgraded Imrul Kayes' central contract from grade B to grade A.{{citation |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/story/559489.html |title=Ashraful chopped from central contracts list |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=1 April 2012 |access-date=2 April 2012 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115064014/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22327160/bangladesh-news-ashraful-chopped-central-contracts-list |url-status=live}}

In October 2018, he was named in the squad for the Comilla Victorians team, following the draft for the 2018–19 Bangladesh Premier League.{{cite web |url=http://www.tigercricket.com.bd/2018/10/29/full-players-list-of-the-teams-following-players-draft-of-bpl-t20-2018-19/ |title=Full players list of the teams following Players Draft of BPL T20 2018-19 |work=Bangladesh Cricket Board |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-date=28 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328104022/http://www.tigercricket.com.bd/2018/10/29/full-players-list-of-the-teams-following-players-draft-of-bpl-t20-2018-19/ |url-status=live}} In November 2019, he was selected to play for the Chattogram Challengers in the 2019–20 Bangladesh Premier League.{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/28105555/tamim-iqbal-team-coach-mohammad-salahuddin-dhaka |title=BPL draft: Tamim Iqbal to team up with coach Mohammad Salahuddin for Dhaka |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=18 November 2019 |archive-date=19 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119050720/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/28105555/tamim-iqbal-team-coach-mohammad-salahuddin-dhaka |url-status=live}}

Retirement

Imrul announced his retirement from Test and first-class cricket in November 2024.{{Cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/bangladesh-opener-imrul-kayes-announces-red-ball-retirement-1459499 |title=Imrul Kayes announces red-ball retirement |date=13 November 2024 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}

International centuries

class="wikitable"

|+Test centuries by Imrul Kayes{{Cite web |title=Test cricket centuries by Imrul Kayes |url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/280734.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=start;runsmin1=100;runsval1=runs;template=results;type=batting;view=innings |access-date=20 December 2024 |website=Cricinfo}}

!{{abbr|No.|Number}}

!Runs

!Against

!Venue

!{{abbr|H/A|Home or Away}}

!{{abbr|Date|The starting date of the match}}

!{{abbr|Result|The result of the match from Sri Lanka's perspective}}

!{{abbr|Ref|Reference}}

!115

|{{cr|SL}}

|Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong

|Home

|{{dts|2014|February|4|format=dmy}}

|Drawn

|{{Cite web |title=BAN vs SL Cricket Scorecard, 2nd Test at Chattogram, February 04 - 08, 2014 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/sri-lanka-in-bangladesh-test-series-2013-14-690341/bangladesh-vs-sri-lanka-2nd-test-690349/full-scorecard |access-date=20 December 2024 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}

!130

|{{cr|ZIM}}

|Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong

|Home

|{{dts|2014|November|12|format=dmy}}

|Won

|{{Cite web |title=BAN vs ZIM Cricket Scorecard, 3rd Test at Chattogram, November 12 - 16, 2014 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/zimbabwe-tour-of-bangladesh-2014-15-760771/bangladesh-vs-zimbabwe-3rd-test-760785/full-scorecard |access-date=20 December 2024 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}

!150

|{{cr|PAK}}

|Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, Khulna

|Home

|{{dts|2015|April|28|format=dmy}}

|Drawn

|{{Cite web |title=BAN vs PAK Cricket Scorecard, 1st Test at Khulna, April 28 - May 02, 2015 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/pakistan-tour-of-bangladesh-2015-856311/bangladesh-vs-pakistan-1st-test-858493/full-scorecard |access-date=20 December 2024 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}

class="wikitable"

|+ODI centuries by Imrul Kayes{{Cite web |title=ODI cricket centuries by Imrul Kayes |url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/280734.html?class=2;filter=advanced;orderby=start;runsmin1=100;runsval1=runs;template=results;type=batting;view=innings |access-date=20 December 2024 |website=Cricinfo}}

!{{abbr|No.|Number}}

!Runs

!Against

!Venue

!{{abbr|H/A|Home or Away}}

!{{abbr|Date|The date of the match}}

!{{abbr|Result|The result of the match from Sri Lanka's perspective}}

!{{abbr|Ref|Reference}}

!101

|{{cr|NZL}}

|Lancaster Park, Christchurch

|Away

|{{dts|2010|February|11|format=dmy}}

|Lost

|{{Cite web |title=NZ vs BAN Cricket Scorecard, 3rd ODI at Christchurch, February 11, 2010 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/bangladesh-tour-of-new-zealand-2009-10-423769/new-zealand-vs-bangladesh-3rd-odi-423785/full-scorecard |access-date=20 December 2024 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}

!112

|{{cr|ENG}}

|Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

|Home

|{{dts|2016|October|7|format=dmy}}

|Lost

|{{Cite web |title=BAN vs ENG Cricket Scorecard, 1st ODI at Dhaka, October 07, 2016 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-bdesh-2016-17-1029813/bangladesh-vs-england-1st-odi-1029819/full-scorecard |access-date=20 December 2024 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}

!144

|{{cr|ZIM}}

|Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

|Home

|{{dts|2018|October|21|format=dmy}}

|Won

|{{Cite web |title=BAN vs ZIM Cricket Scorecard, 1st ODI at Dhaka, October 21, 2018 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/zimbabwe-in-bangladesh-2018-19-1153629/bangladesh-vs-zimbabwe-1st-odi-1153635/full-scorecard |access-date=20 December 2024 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}

!115

|{{cr|ZIM}}

|Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong

|Home

|{{dts|2018|October|26|format=dmy}}

|Won

|{{Cite web |title=BAN vs ZIM Cricket Scorecard, 3rd ODI at Chattogram, October 26, 2018 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/zimbabwe-in-bangladesh-2018-19-1153629/bangladesh-vs-zimbabwe-3rd-odi-1153637/full-scorecard |access-date=20 December 2024 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}