Veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim is poised to make cricket history for Bangladesh as he stands just 43 runs away from becoming the nation’s first player to reach the 7,000-run milestone in Test cricket. The former national team captain requires the modest tally ahead of the opening Test against the West Indies, scheduled to commence tomorrow at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
Mushfiqur began his international journey in 2005, making his Test debut as an 18-year-old against England at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. Over a career spanning more than two decades, the 39-year-old middle-order stalwart has amassed 6,957 runs across 106 Tests and 195 innings, maintaining a respectable batting average of 39.08. His record-breaking tally includes three double centuries—the most by any Bangladeshi batter—alongside 14 centuries and 30 half-centuries.
The veteran cricketer already holds the distinction of being the only Bangladeshi player to feature in 100 Test matches. He achieved that historic milestone last year during the home series against Ireland in Mirpur. Marking the occasion in dramatic fashion, Mushfiqur scored a fluent 106 in the first innings, becoming the first Bangladeshi and only the 11th cricketer worldwide to register a century in their 100th Test match.
Facing the West Indies has yielded solid returns for the seasoned batsman over the years. In his 14 Test appearances against the Caribbean side, Mushfiqur has played 27 innings, accumulating 782 runs at an average of 31.28. That tally includes one century and three fifties.
As the national team prepares to take the field in Mirpur, cricket enthusiasts across the country await the 43 runs that will solidify Mushfiqur’s legacy as Bangladesh’s most prolific Test batsman.
