A left arm pace bowler who is known for his ability to swing the ball, Syed Rasel made his way up the ranks with steady performances in domestic cricket. He started with the Bangladesh Under 19 team but his real break came in 2005 when as a 21 year old, he bagged 7 for 50 in the first innings and finished off the match with 10 wickets playing for Bangladesh A against Kent. Bangladesh A still lost the game but Rasel's swinging abilities impressed the national selectors who rewarded him with a Test call up for the tour to Sri Lanka.

He was impressive in his first tour, where he picked up 6 wickets from 2 matches on flat tracks including his career best 4 for 129 in the 2nd Test. He also made his ODI debut in the same tour, and had a good outing in the first match where he returned figures of 2 for 42 from his 10 overs. A few months later at home in Bogra, Rasel starred with a 2 for 28 to help Bangladesh get their first ever ODI win against Sri Lanka. A motorbike accident in 2006 threatened to jeopardise his career but Rasel recovered in time to play in the Champions Trophy in 2006. He was also selected for the World Cup in the West Indies in 2007.
Post 2007, Rasel failed to impress with the ball and often went wicketless against top nations. He was on and off the team throughout the next few years but remained in the reckoning for a World Cup berth in 2011. However, after a string of ordinary shows, Rasel was dropped from the ODI squad in July 2010.

Rasel lost his central contract in 2012, the year when he signed up to play for Halstead Cricket Club.

Fact: Rasel was Muthiah Muralitharan's 700th Test victim.

By Karthik LakshmananApril 2014