As Bangladesh celebrate Mushfiqur Rahim鈥檚 100th Test appearance, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam is also on the brink of a new milestone as the second Test between the Tigers and Ireland begins at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium today.
Veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is currently the leading wicket-taker for Bangladesh in Tests with 246 wickets in 71 matches.
But Taijul, who has so far claimed 242 wickets in 56 games at an average of 31.34, can match or surpass Shakib if he gets four or more wickets in this Test.
In his career, the 33-year-old spinner has claimed five wickets on 17 occasions with the best bowling figure of 8-39 against Zimbabwe in 2014.
Shakib has been absent from the country鈥檚 cricketing scenario since the series against India last year after he was barred from returning to the country by the sports ministry led by youth and sports adviser Asif Mahmud.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz is in third position among the highest-wicket takers in Tests for Bangladesh, and the all-rounder is also the only active player who is close to Taijul with 208 wickets in 55 matches.
The trident also shares the record of touching the 200-wicket milestone in the Test format for Bangladesh.
For more than a decade, Shakib has dominated Bangladesh鈥檚 bowling records, but Taijul鈥檚 steady rise through consistent performances at home has brought him close to overtaking the all-rounder.
Taijul has been particularly effective at home, where more than two-thirds of his Test wickets (186) have come on the wickets of Dhaka and Chattogram.
The second Test against Ireland in Dhaka offers Taijul a favourable opportunity, with the surface again expected to aid spin.
Team officials believe that Taijul鈥檚 quest for the record reflects his transformation from a supporting player to a key figure in Bangladesh鈥檚 red-ball bowling lineup.
Taijul, who often was overshadowed by Shakib in his career, earlier said, 鈥業t鈥檚 not like I never played without Shakib bhai. We played matches without him when he was here.鈥�
鈥業 have no regrets. I felt good playing with big players. It鈥檚 a happy feeling sharing things with them, whoever he is.鈥�