NEW DELHI: Veteran Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim played a pivotal role in team’s first-ever Test win over Pakistan, scoring a remarkable 191 runs in Rawalpindi.
The performance earned him the Player of the Match award, which he decided to donate to people affected by the floods in Bangladesh, showcasing his humanitarian spirit.
Rahim’s incredible batting helped Bangladesh secure a 117-run first innings lead as the Tigers set up a total of 565 in the first innings.
Spinners Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz then took seven wickets between them, bringing Pakistan’s second innings to a halt at 146. Bangladesh chased down the 30-run target with ease, marking a milestone victory in the country’s Test cricket history.
“This prize money, I just want to donate to the flood-affected people in Bangladesh. So, I want to donate this prize money to them and also I just want to request all the people back home and for my country those who can donate and also help in this cause,” said Mushfiqur after the match ended.
Reflecting on his performance, Rahim expressed that his 191 was perhaps the finest innings of his international career, while giving credit to his teammates for their collective effort which culminated in an emphatic ten-wicket victory.
“To be honest, this is one of my finest performances so far. Because, as you said (to presenter Bazid Khan), we haven’t done really well overseas.
“So that is one of our goal as a team so that we can put a performance where everyone can see that, how can we improve our batting, especially overseas. So I thought credit goes to not only me, I think all the players the way they prepared themselves throughout this in Pakistan and also back home. And I was really, really happy. I got all the support from them as well.”
Mushfiqur also opened up about his rigorous preparation before the series, which included a special camp back in Bangladesh.
“I just want to share a few talks from myself like before the Test series. There was a two, two and a half months, a gap, right? So we had a pretty special camp back home with the Bangla Tigers camp (Bangladesh ‘A’ team) and all the local support management was there. That was really beneficial for all the players to prepare.”
“Especially for the Test team guys, it was beneficial because other guys, they were playing the T20 World Cup. So that was really helpful. It’s pretty similar weather like this. So that was mainly we covering up from that experience and I was really thankful to all my support staff and coaching stuff in that camp.”
This victory also boosted Bangladesh’s position in the ICC World Test Championship standings, as they leapfrogged Pakistan and South Africa to take the sixth spot, and are now tied on point percentage with Sri Lanka (40%). Meanwhile, Pakistan have slipped to eighth place with a 30.56% point percentage.
“I never think that I am the oldest, or I am the most experienced because when I meet all these guys this is my luxury and the opportunity to play another test for my country and I just try to give my hundred percent and in the field so that if I contribute for my team and all the boys will inspire from that. So that’s only the reason that I am here and that’s only the passion that drives me every day,” concluded Mushfiqur.
The performance earned him the Player of the Match award, which he decided to donate to people affected by the floods in Bangladesh, showcasing his humanitarian spirit.
Rahim’s incredible batting helped Bangladesh secure a 117-run first innings lead as the Tigers set up a total of 565 in the first innings.
Spinners Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz then took seven wickets between them, bringing Pakistan’s second innings to a halt at 146. Bangladesh chased down the 30-run target with ease, marking a milestone victory in the country’s Test cricket history.
“This prize money, I just want to donate to the flood-affected people in Bangladesh. So, I want to donate this prize money to them and also I just want to request all the people back home and for my country those who can donate and also help in this cause,” said Mushfiqur after the match ended.
Reflecting on his performance, Rahim expressed that his 191 was perhaps the finest innings of his international career, while giving credit to his teammates for their collective effort which culminated in an emphatic ten-wicket victory.
“To be honest, this is one of my finest performances so far. Because, as you said (to presenter Bazid Khan), we haven’t done really well overseas.
“So that is one of our goal as a team so that we can put a performance where everyone can see that, how can we improve our batting, especially overseas. So I thought credit goes to not only me, I think all the players the way they prepared themselves throughout this in Pakistan and also back home. And I was really, really happy. I got all the support from them as well.”
Mushfiqur also opened up about his rigorous preparation before the series, which included a special camp back in Bangladesh.
“I just want to share a few talks from myself like before the Test series. There was a two, two and a half months, a gap, right? So we had a pretty special camp back home with the Bangla Tigers camp (Bangladesh ‘A’ team) and all the local support management was there. That was really beneficial for all the players to prepare.”
“Especially for the Test team guys, it was beneficial because other guys, they were playing the T20 World Cup. So that was really helpful. It’s pretty similar weather like this. So that was mainly we covering up from that experience and I was really thankful to all my support staff and coaching stuff in that camp.”
This victory also boosted Bangladesh’s position in the ICC World Test Championship standings, as they leapfrogged Pakistan and South Africa to take the sixth spot, and are now tied on point percentage with Sri Lanka (40%). Meanwhile, Pakistan have slipped to eighth place with a 30.56% point percentage.
“I never think that I am the oldest, or I am the most experienced because when I meet all these guys this is my luxury and the opportunity to play another test for my country and I just try to give my hundred percent and in the field so that if I contribute for my team and all the boys will inspire from that. So that’s only the reason that I am here and that’s only the passion that drives me every day,” concluded Mushfiqur.
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