It has been a remarkable journey for
Bangladesh’s best test batsman, in these two decades he has been one of the pillars
of the national team, constant in the Test team, it would be fitting he will
become the first ever Bangladeshi to play 100 Test Matches.
Mushfiqur Rahim – Stands apart with high
quality Professional and Work Ethics
It was the summer of 2005 in England. The
build-up to the Ashes was electric; the entire United Kingdom waited with
breathless anticipation for the iconic series to begin. But before the Ashes,
England hosted Bangladesh for a two-Test series—Bangladesh’s first-ever Test
tour of England. The series carried special significance: it marked the
farewell of England’s finest left-handed batsman since David Gower—Graham
Thorpe, who was set to play his 100th Test—and it introduced an 18-year-old
Bangladeshi prodigy to the biggest stage - That teenager was Mushfiqur Rahim.
Two decades later, now a respected
statesman of the game, Rahim stands on the cusp of playing his own 100th
Test—becoming the first Bangladeshi cricketer in history to do so.
Born on May 9, 1987, Mohammad Mushfiqur
Rahim grew up with the same cricketing dreams that filled the hearts of
countless children across South Asia. Bangladesh had played their first ODI in
1986, and through the 1990s cricket slowly took root in the nation’s sporting
culture. Their victory in the 1997 ACC Trophy and subsequent qualification for
the 1999 World Cup transformed the country. For thousands of Bangladeshi
youngsters, cricket suddenly felt like a real career. Among them was a
determined young boy from Bogura—Rahim.
As Bangladesh began taking confident
strides in Test cricket, its cricketing structure evolved too—better coaching,
stronger age-group programmes, improved infrastructure. These advances created
opportunities for talents like Rahim. By age 12, he was already playing
organized district cricket in Bogura. His natural ability was impossible to
ignore. Soon he was selected for trials at BKSP, the country’s premier sports
institute.
May 24th 2005- An 18 year old
Mushfiq goes for training with his kit
By 2004, at just 17, Rahim was a standout
performer across age-group levels and firmly on the selectors’ radar.
Bangladesh was searching for a long-term successor to veteran keeper Khaled
Masud, and in the bright, disciplined Rahim, they found their answer. In 2005,
he was selected for Bangladesh’s historic Test tour of England and made his
debut at Lord’s as an 18-year-old. His talent was unmistakable, though like
many young cricketers, he endured early struggles. But an innings of 80 against
Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2007 revealed his temperament and signalled to
Bangladesh cricket that he was ready to carry a greater responsibility. It also
marked the transition from the era of Khaled Masud to the rise of Mushfiqur
Rahim.
Mushfiq during his first Test as an 18 year
old – Lords 2005
Alongside Mashrafe Mortaza, Shakib Al
Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, and Mahmudullah Riyad, Rahim became part of the iconic
“Famous Five”—a golden core that carried Bangladesh cricket for nearly two
decades.Rahim’s batting and wicketkeeping reached new heights once he was
appointed Test captain in 2011 at just 24. Young though he was, he embraced the
responsibility with maturity. Under his leadership, Bangladesh registered
memorable Test wins against Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, England, and even Australia.
In his seven-year tenure, he became Bangladesh’s most successful and
longest-serving Test captain—even though he could not replicate the same
success in ODIs.
As a batsman, Rahim evolved into one of
Bangladesh’s finest. His double hundred in Sri Lanka was a defining moment,
showcasing the grit and endurance Bangladesh had long aspired to in Test
cricket. His 159 at Basin Reserve in Wellington in early 2017 proved his
ability to score in tough overseas conditions. Later that year, his superb 127
in India stamped his class against one of the world’s strongest attacks. And
when Bangladesh secured a historic 2-0 Test series win in Pakistan last year,
Rahim’s marathon 191 stood tall as one of the greatest innings ever played by a
Bangladeshi.
In limited-overs cricket, Rahim is
Bangladesh’s second-highest ODI run-scorer and among their best in T20Is. But
today, it is his Test legacy that shines brightest.
Mushfiqur has taken 112 catches and 15
stumpings in Test cricket—numbers that highlight the sharp reflexes, unwavering
concentration, and sheer discipline he brought behind the stumps. Beyond these
statistics, he also stands as Bangladesh’s most successful and longest-serving
Test captain, leading the side in 34 Tests over seven years, recording 7 wins,
18 losses, and 9 draws. His leadership phase was not just about numbers; it was
about instilling belief, resilience, and professionalism in a young cricketing
nation still finding its identity in Test cricket. Under his watch, Bangladesh
learned how to fight sessions, win sessions, and dream bigger than ever before.
Mushfiqur’s selection in 2007 at Colombo
heralded the new era in Bangladesh’s cricket
On Wednesday, 19 November 2025, Mushfiqur
Rahim will become the first cricketer from Bangladesh to play 100 Test
matches. With 6,351 runs at an average of 38.02, along with 112 catches and
15 stumpings, his contributions as a wicketkeeper-batsman have been invaluable.
Great cricketers are remembered for
excellence, consistency, and longevity. Mushfiqur Rahim embodies all three. He
has not only been Bangladesh’s longest-serving cricketer but also enjoys one of
the lengthiest careers in world cricket—trailing only legends like Sachin
Tendulkar and Imran Khan.
When Mushfiqur walks into the Shere Bangla
National Stadium on the morning of November 19, 2025, with 20 years and six
months of international experience behind him, he will represent the story of
Bangladesh’s own 25-year Test journey. And who better than Mushfiqur Rahim—the
finest Test cricketer Bangladesh has ever produced—to inspire the next
generation?
More Memorable moments
Win against England ( top left), Sri Lanka
( top right) and Australia was massive during his captaincy
Comments
Post a Comment