Bangladesh’s leading Test wicket-taker, Taijul Islam, has drawn level with Shakib Al Hasan after taking four wickets in the first innings of the second Test against Ireland. Both left-arm spinners now stand on 246 Test wickets, and Taijul is poised to move clear at the top when he next strikes.
After the third day’s play, the nearly 34-year-old made it clear he is not thinking too far ahead. When asked where he hopes to finish his career, Taijul said he prefers to leave such matters in the hands of Allah rather than set personal targets.
He explained, “It’s difficult to predict what will happen in two years. As a cricketer, performance decides how far you can go. For me, the process and the performance matter most. As long as I’m playing and performing, I believe I’ll remain in a good place.”
When pressed on whether he had a final wicket tally in mind, Taijul laughed it off: “No, I haven’t set a number. If Allah gives me 700 wickets, I’m happy to take all 700.”
Taijul added that he has never been one to define his career with long-term goals. “Everyone’s first target is to play for the national team. After that, some set big goals, but I never thought, ‘I must stop here’ or ‘I must reach this point.’ I just want to go as far as I can until the end of my career.”
