Khaled Mashud

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. Khaled was also the wicketkeeper who contributed to Bangladesh's first ever ODI hat-trick by taking two magnificent catches off Shahadat Hossain's bowling.

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.

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.

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.

Mashud 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 partnership 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 included two massive hits for six. He also enjoyed a highly successful time behind the stumps with 12 catches and 11 stumpings.