Bangladesh batsman Mushfiqur Rahim described reaching his 100th Test match, capped with a century, as a “huge achievement” and a proud moment not just for him, but for Bangladeshi cricket, reports the Daily Sun.
“Alhamdulillah. I actually can’t believe myself that, being a player, especially a player from Bangladesh, I would play 100 Tests. So, it’s really a huge achievement,” Mushfiqur said after day two of the one-off Test against Ireland at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
He added that the milestone increases his sense of responsibility. “I will try to live up to that. In the matches that I play, however I play, Insha’Allah, I will try to reflect that on the field. And at the same time, I hope that I can leave behind one or two players in the dressing room after I’m gone so that the gap is filled, Insha’Allah.”
The 38-year-old veteran has become the first Bangladeshi to reach 100 Tests, marking two decades of dedication to the national side. He made the occasion even more special as he went on to score a century in the first innings of the Mirpur Test.
His knock placed him among an exclusive group of players to have marked their milestone Test with a hundred — joining Colin Cowdrey (104), Javed Miandad (145), Gordon Greenidge (149), Alec Stewart (105), Inzamam-ul-Haq (184), Ricky Ponting (120 & 143*), Graeme Smith (131), Hashim Amla (134), Joe Root (218), and David Warner (200).
Despite the huge achievement, Mushfiqur remained composed throughout the first two days of the Mirpur Test as tributes and praise poured in from across the cricketing world.
“100 Tests is a huge number. So, by the time I reached there, I hoped I had learned everything. So, I tried to gather that experience and tried to stay calm,” he said.
“And to be honest, I really thank BCB again for what they planned that morning. It really feels great, and I really felt honoured yesterday, especially. So, I believe that, as I said, not just me, if there are such recognitions, it will be a big inspiration for any cricketer or any individual,” he added.
“At least now I think many players in Bangladesh also think that, yes, they can play 100 Tests, or they even think that I can also play in the Test team. So, dreaming this is very important, and I think I really enjoyed it and really feel honoured for the respect they have given me,” he concluded.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
