A tidy, unflashy wicketkeeper, Khaled Mashud can also be a free-striking batsman whose match-winning six against Kenya in the final of the 1997 ICC Trophy did much to raise his country's profile. But he is also capable of digging in, as shown by his stand of 93 with Aminul Islam in the inaugural Test against India in 2000-01, and, as Bangladesh's baptismal struggles continued, his doughty presence at No. 7 was often the saving grace of an innings. He is a good keeper standing up, and though he drops the odd ball off the seamers, he has been acclaimed by his coach, Dav Whatmore, as the best in Asia. Mashud - also known as "Pilot" - was saddled with the captaincy when Naimur Rahman was jettisoned after the home defeat by Zimbabwe late in 2001. However, he was powerless to halt Bangladesh's woeful run, and quit after their humiliations at the 2003 World Cup, but remained a pivotal figure in the side. His finest hour came in St Lucia in June 2004, when his unbeaten second-innings century secured Bangladesh a draw in their first Test in the Caribbean. He made an unbeaten 71 in the final match of the NatWest Series against Australia in England in 2005, but has now gone 24 Test innings without a half-century, although he did make 49 in Bangladesh's first Test win, over Zimbabwe in January 2005. Only just into his thirties, Mashud hadn't intended handing the gloves over to Mushfiqur Rahim just yet, but his hand was forced when he was omitted from the World Cup squad in 2007. His last Test was against Sri Lanka in June 2007 and he announced his retirement in September 2008.
Simon Briggs (September 2008)