Ricky Ponting, the two time World Cup winning Australian captain, led tributes on Thursday in Mirpur as Mushfiqur Rahim became the first Bangladeshi cricketer to reach the landmark of 100 Test matches.
As Mushfiqur stepped onto the field to mark the occasion, Ponting praised the wicketkeeper batter’s longevity, calling the milestone an incredible accomplishment for a player who has helped carry Bangladesh’s Test cricket forward for nearly two decades.
The ICC’s official Facebook page released a message from Ponting congratulating him on the achievement. Ponting said, “This is an incredible achievement. Mushfiqur has become the first Bangladeshi to do this. I have always said I judge high quality cricketers by their longevity. The best players perform on the big stage year after year.”
Ponting added that sustained excellence at the highest level is earned only through time. “When you play 70, 80, 90 Tests, you gain the chance to adapt and improve yourself, to become even better. It is never easy. It is a remarkable accomplishment. I congratulate Mushfiqur on his 100th Test and hope he plays one of the best matches of his career.”
Mushfiqur entered the match with 6,351 runs in 99 Tests, including 12 centuries and 27 fifties. While he is the first Bangladesh player to reach the milestone, he is the 84th cricketer in the world to reach 100 Tests.
To commemorate the moment, the Bangladesh Cricket Board held a special ceremony at the Sher e Bangla Stadium. Mushfiqur received commemorative mementos presented by former national players Aminul Islam Bulbul, Akram Khan and Habibul Bashar.
