Khaled Mashud

For the Bangladeshi bowler, see Khaled Mahmud.

Khaled Mashud

Personal information
Full name	Khaled Mashud
Born	(1976-02-08) 8 February 1976 Rajshahi, Bangladesh
Nickname	Pilot
Batting style	Right-handed
Role	Wicket-keeper
International information
National side	Bangladesh
Test debut (cap 6)	10 November 2000 v India
Last Test	28 June 2007 v Sri Lanka
ODI debut (cap 26)	5 April 1995 v India
Last ODI	5 December 2006 v Zimbabwe
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1997–2011	Rajshahi Division
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA Matches 44 126 101 184 Runs scored 1,409 1,818 3,933 2,578 Batting average 19.04 21.90 24.89 20.46 100s/50s 1/3 0/7 3/18 0/10 Top score 103* 71* 201* 71* Balls bowled 0 0 50 7 Wickets – – 0 0 Bowling average – – – – 5 wickets in innings – – – – 10 wickets in match – – – – Best bowling – – – – Catches/stumpings 78/9 91/35 174/18 147/49
Source: Cricinfo, 21 November 2008

Khaled Mashud (Bengali: খালেদ মাসুদ) (born 8 February 1976 in Rajshahi) is a Bangladeshi cricketer. A wicketkeeper and more than a useful middle order batsman, he was a regular member of the national team between 1995–2007. Bangladeshi coach Dav Whatmore has gone so far as to claim Mashud as the best wicketkeeper in Asia.

Early days

Mashud played for the Bangladesh U-19 side in 1993. Apart from his keeping duties. he also took the important responsibility of batting at No. 3. Within couple of years, he graduated to the national team and played against the touring England 'A' team in February 1995. His ODI debut came later in the year at Sharjah.

In Test cricket

He made an impressive Test debut with the bat, scoring 32 and 21* in the historic match against India in November 2000. But his most memorable moment in Test cricket came in the West Indies in May 2004. Despite taking a first innings lead of 64, Bangladesh ran into trouble, losing their first seven wickets for just 123 runs. Mashud then led a late order recovery to take the score to 271/9 (decl.). The declaration came just after Mashud completed his hundred (103*). He was given exclellent support by Rafiq (29) and Tapash (26). Behind the stumps, his 87 victims from 44 matches does not sound very impressive, but he was playing for a side which possessed very little venom in their bowling department.

In ODI cricket

Mashud had little chance to show his mettle as a one-day batsman, as he almost inevitably came to bat with his team struggling. Still, he managed to get a top score of 71*, against the Australians in 2005. With the Bangladesh spinners being more effective in limited-over games, Mashud had more chance to show his class. His 91 catches and 35 stumpings in ODI testify to that.

In ICC Trophy

Pilot was a vital member of the triumphant Bangladesh team in the 1997 ICC trophy. There, he topped the batting averages for his country, scoring 92 runs and getting out only once. He was MoM in the SF against Scotland after scoring 70 and sharing a 115 run partership with Aminul Islam. In the final, he scored a quickfire 15* from just 7 deliveries to take Bangladesh home to a last ball victory. His innings inlcluded two massive hits for six. He also enjoyed a highly successful time behind the stumps with 12 catches and 11 stumpings.

The end

His place in the side came under threat, however, with the emergence of Mushfiqur Rahim, combined with his own failure to score a half century in 24 Test innings. He was subsequently dropped from the Bangladesh squad for the 2007 Cricket World Cup and after a brief return against Sri Lanka did not feature, with Rahim and Dhiman Ghosh being preferred as wicketkeepers. He announced his retirement from international cricket in 2008 but continues to play domestic cricket in Bangladesh as captain of the Rajshahi Division team. Pilot has announced his retirement in domestic cricket which he captained his team to win the title in 2011.

Controversies

Pilot had a brief stint as captain of Bangladesh. But, he lost his captaincy in acrimonious circumstances following the 2003 WC in Africa. Bangladesh suffered defeats at the hands of Canada and Kenya amidst allegations of Match fixing. Although the allegations were not proved Pilot was stripped of his captaincy duty. In February 2006, he was fined after being found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute during a match against Sri Lanka.

Family connection

His father, Shamsu was a prominent footballer of the country in the 70's. A striker, he formed a deadly partnership with legendary Salahuddin, to help Abahani win the Dhaka League title in 1977.

External links

• Cricinfo profile on: Khaled Mashud

Preceded by Naimur Rahman	Bangladesh national cricket captain 2001/2	Succeeded by Khaled Mahmud
Preceded by Habibul Bashar	Bangladesh national cricket captain 2004/5	Succeeded by Habibul Bashar