Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons on Tuesday lavished praise on Mushfiqur Rahim, noting that “his professionalism, his longevity and his hunger to play for Bangladesh” have made him a standout figure, as the veteran wicketkeeper-batter prepares to become the first Bangladeshi to play 100 Tests.
Bangladesh face Ireland in the second and final Test of the series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur from Wednesday. For the home side, the match has already taken on special significance and is being viewed as “Mushi’s Test”.
Simmons, a former West Indies international who has seen many legends reach the 100-Test milestone, spoke about Mushfiqur’s achievement during the pre-match press conference.
“First of all, we must acknowledge his professionalism and how long he has been doing this, along with his desire to represent Bangladesh,” Simmons said. “Reaching 100 Tests is not easy. Bangladesh does not play a large number of matches each year, so it has taken him time. From the short period I have worked with him, I can say his professionalism is exceptional. I will be very happy for him when the moment arrives tomorrow.”
Simmons also recognised how Mushfiqur has maintained his standards in the format that demands the most discipline. “His professionalism is his biggest strength. It is about how you present yourself, how you work on improving your game and how you prepare to succeed at international level,” he said.
“When you look at his career, he has consistently performed and that is why he is still here. There is also a strong desire in him, which you see in players who reach 100 or 150 Tests. They all want to keep performing and keep pushing themselves. That desire to improve and get better is what stands out.”
He added that Mushfiqur’s journey should inspire young cricketers coming through the system. “What I observe in him is a combination of professionalism, discipline in training and a constant drive to improve. At this level you cannot stand still. You always have to progress because the cricket world is connected through technology and opponents are studying you all the time. You must keep evolving and I believe he has evolved many times since his early days,” Simmons said.
