Mushfiqur Rahim has spent nearly two decades carrying Bangladesh’s Test cricket on his shoulders. On Monday in Sylhet, the veteran batter added another chapter to that legacy by producing a masterclass against Pakistan and climbing to the top of Bangladesh’s Test record books.
The 39-year-old scored a magnificent 137 in the second innings of the second Test against Pakistan to register his 14th Test hundred, the most by any Bangladesh batter in history. In the process, he went past Mominul Haque’s tally of 13 centuries.
But that was not the only milestone. During the knock, Mushfiqur also became the first Bangladeshi cricketer to complete 16,000 international runs across formats. He now has 16,058 runs for Bangladesh. Last year, Mushfiqur became one of the few batters to smash a century on his 100th Test.
Mushfiqur Rahim breaks multiple records in Sylhet
Playing his 102nd Test, Mushfiqur reached the century with a boundary off Mohammad Abbas in the 85th over. The Sylhet crowd rose to applaud while teammates stood in the dressing room to celebrate another landmark in an already remarkable career.
| Record | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Test hundreds for Bangladesh | 14 (Most) |
| International runs | 16,058 |
| Test runs | 6763 |
| Age during century | 39 years, 7 days |
| WTC record | Oldest centurion in WTC history |
The century also made Mushfiqur the oldest batter to score a hundred in World Test Championship (WTC) history at 39 years and seven days.
His innings was not just about records either. Pakistan’s bowlers tested him with short balls, defensive fields and long spells, but Mushfiqur barely looked rattled. He absorbed pressure, rotated strike smartly and punished loose deliveries whenever they came. The knock included 12 fours and one six, and more importantly, pushed Bangladesh into complete control of the Test.
Players with most Test centuries for Bangladesh
| Rank | Player | Innings | Test Hundreds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mushfiqur Rahim | 188 | 14 |
| 2 | Mominul Haque | 143 | 13 |
| 3 | Tamim Iqbal | 134 | 10 |
| 4 | Najmul Hossain Shanto | 77 | 9 |
| 5 | Litton Das | 94 | 6 |
| =5 | Mohammad Ashraful | 119 | 6 |
Bangladesh eventually set Pakistan a daunting target of 437 runs in the fourth innings. After already winning the opening Test in Dhaka by 104 runs, the hosts are now closing in on a historic series sweep.
Earlier in the match, Litton Das had also starred with a brilliant 126 in the first innings, while Taijul Islam and Nahid Rana picked up three wickets each to restrict Pakistan to 232.
Pakistan did have one positive with Babar Azam returning to form on his Test comeback, scoring 68 off 84 balls. But Mushfiqur’s marathon effort has left them staring at another defeat.
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