In a time of uncertainty both on and off the field, two of Bangladesh cricket’s most scrutinised figures, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim, found the most powerful way to respond: with centuries on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium.
It was not just a tale of runs but of redemption, resistance and relevance.
Shanto and Mushfiqur, both under fire in recent weeks, walked in with their team in disarray at 45 for three, a familiar script for Bangladesh on away tours. But from that moment on, the duo stitched together a masterclass in composure and concentration, steering Bangladesh to 292 for three by stumps on Day 1. The unbeaten 247-run fourth-wicket partnership is now Bangladesh’s highest for that wicket against Sri Lanka, eclipsing the previous best of 180 between Litton Das and Mominul Haque.
The narrative around both players in recent months has been dominated by questions of form, leadership, and selection justification. Shanto, once earmarked as the face of the next generation, has come under particular scrutiny following a patchy run with the bat and Bangladesh’s dismal ODI series against Sri Lanka earlier this year. Matters worsened when he was unceremoniously stripped of the ODI captaincy — a decision made without direct communication from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The 25-year-old found out only through the media, a move emblematic of the current administrative disorder within the BCB.
Mushfiqur’s case is slightly different but no less contentious. A mainstay of Bangladesh’s Test setup for nearly two decades, the 36-year-old came into the match without a century in his last 13 innings and with questions over his longevity. His last ton came in February 2024 against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, and since then, he had managed just one score over 40. Critics, including former players, had started questioning his place in the side and whether he still had the hunger for the format.
On Tuesday in Galle, they both answered back in style.
Shanto’s century, his sixth in Tests and second against Sri Lanka, came off 202 balls and was built on resilience after a nervy start. Having lost two early wickets to debutant off-spinner Tharindu Rathnayake (who claimed Shadman Islam and Mominul Haque) and Anamul Haque to a loose shot off Asitha Fernando, Shanto initially curbed his natural aggression. But as the innings wore on, he found fluency, timing his shots with confidence and rotating strike smartly.
Mushfiqur, meanwhile, was all grit. He got to his 12th Test hundred off 176 balls, hitting just five boundaries, a reflection of the tough conditions and the veteran’s disciplined approach. The fact that it came at the same venue where he scored a double century in 2013 adds a poetic edge to the knock.
Together, the pair not only steadied the innings but also restored some pride to a team that has looked rudderless in recent months.
Off the field, the BCB has been in a state of flux. The sudden ousting of the former president Faruque Ahmed and the appointment of a new board leadership have left players and fans alike in limbo. Communication breakdowns and administrative opacity have all contributed to a growing sense of mistrust and instability.
Against this backdrop, Shanto and Mushfiqur’s centuries are more than just personal milestones. They are a defiant stand, a message that even amid the chaos, the team still has players willing to put in the hard yards and fight for the badge.
Their partnership was also a stark contrast to the performance of the top order. Anamul’s 10-ball duck and Mominul’s reckless approach after a promising start were examples of the poor shot selection and lack of temperament that have plagued Bangladesh’s batting in recent years.
The absence of Mehidy Hasan Miraz due to illness and Ebadot Hossain’s continued recovery left the bowling looking thin on paper, making a big first-innings total all the more vital. With Litton Das returning to the Test side and the likes of Nahid Rana and Hasan Mahmud leading the pace attack, the senior batters had a point to prove, and they delivered.
There will be sterner tests ahead, not least in the second innings and the remainder of the series. But for now, Bangladesh can look back on Day 1 in Galle with a sense of purpose and pride, a rare commodity in their recent cricketing discourse.
And for Shanto and Mushfiqur, this was more than just about runs. It was about rewriting the narrative, at least for now.