¶¶Òõ¾«Æ·

The celebration of Mushfiqur Rahim’s 100th Test takes centre stage as the second and final Test between Bangladesh and Ireland starts at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium today.

Mushfiq is set to become the first Bangladeshi player to achieve the milestone as BCB laid out multi-layered plans to felicitate him.

He will be presented with a special cap, crest, and jersey by the likes of his first Test captain Habibul Bashar, the current captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, Bangladesh’s number one Test cap holder Akram Khan, BCB president Aminul Islam, and the chairman of the cricket operations of  BCB Nazmul Abedeen Fahim.

Mushfiq was also at the centre stage the day before his 100th Test. He didn’t come to meet the press; however, he posed with the journalists present for pictures to mark the occasion.

The press conference was also full of questions related to the man of the moment, as Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons regarded the batter’s professionalism highly.

‘Well, I think first of all, we have to acknowledge his [Mushfiq] professionalism and his longevity and just his desire to play cricket for Bangladesh,’ said Simmons in the pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

‘Because to get 100 Test matches, Bangladesh doesn’t play 15 a year, so it’s taken him a period of time, and we must appreciate that. And I think, from working with him for a short time, the professionalism is extremely high, and I will be so happy for him tomorrow when that occasion comes,’ Simmons added.

Simmons also mentioned the former Bangladesh captain’s continuous desire to get better and better.

He said, ‘I think his secret is professionalism. It’s how you carry yourself, how you work at improving your game, and how you work at being successful at an international level. Because when you look back, he has been successful at the international level, and that keeps him there.’

‘But there is also a desire in him and all the others who play 100 and 150 Test matches to continue to do well. So, I think that’s the big thing we have to look at: the desire to continue to improve, to continue to get better, and to perform at that level,’ he added.

The former West Indies all-rounder also believes that Mushfiq is ticking all the marks—fitness, performance, and desire to play—to continue even after the milestone.

Ireland batter Harry Tector also hailed Mushfiq ahead of his landmark.

‘I think anytime a player plays 100 test matches for their country, it’s very, very inspiring. I think whenever I finish playing, I’m not sure Ireland will have even played 100 test matches,’ Tector said with a smile.

‘The fact that he’s done that over a 20-year career, I think, is very impressive. And it’s a phenomenal achievement from a player who’s been very good for two decades,’ he added.

In terms of the general cricket of the series, the Mirpur wicket was looking different from that of the 50-over series against the West Indies.

According to Simmons, it was ‘fairly good’. ‘Tomorrow morning when we come, they’re going to do some more rolling. Tomorrow morning when we come, we will see how it is, but it looks good, and it looks like it could be good for batting for at least the first two, maybe two and a half days.’

Earlier, in the first Test Bangladesh beat Ireland by an innings and 24 runs at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.