CHATTOGRAM, Bangladesh – Two guards of honour, a fifty, and a record win – Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza’s final day as an international cricketer was one to remember.
The 36-year-old smashed 71 off just 42 balls to chase down Afghanistan’s 155/8 on Friday, September 20, for a seven-wicket win.
It was Zimbabwe’s first win against the Asian side in Twenty20 Internationals, and it was poignant that the retiring captain was instrumental in getting “the monkey off our back”.
Masakadza said he was leaving international cricket with no regrets but with a “super special” feeling.
Masakadza, who has played 38 Tests, 209 one-day internationals and 66 T20Is for his country since his debut in 2001, had earlier in the month announced his intention to retire at the end of the tri-series in Bangladesh.
He was given guard of honour by both teams when he came to bat for one final time in his 18-year long international career, but he put the emotions aside momentarily to launch an attack, hitting four fours and five sixes in his brisk innings that set the base for Zimbabwe’s win.
“Obviously it was super special. The way the bowlers bowled we just knew it was a good start; there would be a chance to win the game. To lead the team to the win was really special. And to do it in my last game… and first-time beating Afghanistan makes it special as well,” Masakadza said after the match.
Masakadza, the last representative of Zimbabwe’s golden generation having made his international debut in 2001, acknowledged it was an emotional day for him to play the final game of his eventful international career.
“I started tearing a little bit in the morning trying to get through the team talking with the boys,” he said.
“I am not someone who wears his heart on his sleeve but I think this is the one thing that brought a few emotions out of me.
“Even when I tried to tell the guys and the team before I made the official announcement, I barely got through three sentences so it’s been a really emotional time for me,” he said.
Masakadza created a world record in his debut when he hit a Test century against West Indies in 2001 at the age of 17 years and 254 days to become the youngest ever Test centurion, though his record survived barely three months before being overtaken by Bangladesh’s Mohammad Ashraful.
Earlier in the same year he became the first black player in Zimbabwe to score a first-class century, which also earned him the distinction of becoming the youngest ever Zimbabwean to score a first-class century.
He took a three-year break in his international career after his maiden Test century to pursue his higher study and when he returned to the team, Zimbabwean cricket started to hit the deck due to a rebel crisis.
It also affected his career, making him wait for 10 years to score his second Test century against Bangladesh in 2011 when Zimbabwe ended their five-year self-exile from Test cricket.
“I have been going through lot of emotions today but regret is not one of them. I’m really thankful, thankful to the board for giving me chance to play as long as I have,” he said.
