Former Bangladesh national team fast bowler Shafiul Islam has lost his mother. She died at around 8:30am on Wednesday, 19 August, according to a message shared by Shafiul on social media.
Shafiul, a right-arm pacer who represented Bangladesh across all three international formats, shared the news with a deeply emotional message. He informed friends, relatives and supporters that his mother had passed away and asked everyone to pray for her.
In his message, Shafiul expressed his grief and prayed that the Almighty would grant his mother eternal peace and a place in paradise. He also asked people to forgive any mistakes she may have made and remember her in their prayers.
The death comes several months after Shafiul brought his professional cricket career to an end. At 36, he announced his retirement from all forms of professional cricket on 5 January this year, following a prolonged period away from the national side.
Shafiul made his international debut in 2010, featuring in an ODI against Sri Lanka. The same year, he made his Test and T20I debuts, establishing himself as one of Bangladesh’s pace options during a period when the country’s fast-bowling resources were developing.
Over his international career, Shafiul played 11 Tests, 60 ODIs and 20 T20Is for Bangladesh. Across those three formats, he claimed 107 wickets. His ability to generate movement and provide breakthroughs with the ball earned him opportunities in different phases of his international career.
His final appearance for Bangladesh came in 2020. Although he remained involved in domestic cricket afterwards, he was unable to regain a regular place in the national team. Competition for places, along with the changing composition of Bangladesh’s pace attack, gradually brought his international career to a close.
Shafiul’s career was spread across more than a decade and included appearances at a time when Bangladesh were steadily strengthening their presence in international cricket. His participation in all three formats also reflected the versatility expected of players competing for the national side.
For the former pacer, however, Wednesday’s news is a deeply personal loss. After announcing his retirement earlier this year, he had already entered a new phase of life away from professional cricket. The death of his mother now brings a difficult period for Shafiul and his family.
As he mourns, Shafiul has appealed to supporters and well-wishers to pray for his mother and seek forgiveness for any shortcomings. The cricketing community is expected to stand beside the former international cricketer and his family during this period of bereavement.
