Mushfiqur’s milestone feels like a victory for the entire nation, and on this special day, the BCB honored him with a celebration worthy of the occasion.
The morning sun in Mirpur wasn’t too harsh yet, but the heat of cricket fever had already spread around the stadium. Not just because Bangladesh were playing, not just because it was a Test match morning—this day was different, this morning was special. It was Mushfiqur Rahim’s 100th Test, the first Bangladeshi cricketer to reach a century of Test appearances. How could anyone sleep late on a morning like this?
Fans broke out of their morning laziness and gathered at the stadium gates. Some held placards, others wore proud smiles. Their stories, their emotions—all seemed tied to Mushfiqur.
At around 8:30, the Mushfiqur Rahim Fan Club arrived outside the stadium. The group stood near Gate 3, holding banners, faces glowing with festive excitement. Nazmul Ahsan Evan from Bhola said he had been following Mushfiqur since his debut in 2005. For him, this day was also a personal milestone.
“We are fans of Mushfiqur. This is not just his day—it’s a day of pride for us as well,” Evan said, his voice carrying the weight of years of admiration.
Standing beside him, Naeem from Kishoreganj saw Mushfiqur not just as a cricketer but as a living legend. To him, this milestone reflected every drop of sweat shed on every morning and evening of hard work.
From Tongi in Gazipur, Mushfiqur Masud seemed fully prepared from the early morning: “All day long, the gallery will echo with just one name.”
Around 8:45 a white Pajero stopped in front of the stadium. Out stepped Mushfiqur’s father Mahbub Hamid, mother Tara Begum, wife Jannatul Kifayat, son Mayan, and two-year-old daughter Sehar. From a young boy growing up, making it to the national team, and playing 100 Tests—his family had been part of every step, sacrificing and supporting throughout. Their presence made the occasion even more emotional and vibrant.
The family entered the field earlier. Mushfiqur stepped out of the dressing room and walked toward them with a smile. He hugged his son Mayan, lifted his daughter in his arms, and later kept her close through many parts of the ceremony.
Also present was former captain and long-time teammate Mahmudullah, who is also a family member.
Old memories returned to the field as well. Several members of Mushfiqur’s debut Test squad from Lord’s—Habibul Bashar, Anwar Hossain Monir, Mohammad Rafique, Khaled Mashud, Nafis Iqbal, Mohammad Ashraful, Shahriar Nafis, and Talha Jubair—were there. They all wore special polo shirts designed for the occasion.
The ceremony, announced by the BCB a day earlier, began right on time. Commentator Athar Ali Khan hosted the event. Mushfiqur slowly walked toward the stage, accompanied by Shahriar Nafis of the BCB cricket operations department, who also brought the family along.
The emotional journey blended Mushfiqur’s debut excitement from 20 years ago with the pride of his 100th Test. Habibul Bashar placed a special Test cap on his head—the same man who had handed him his first Test cap in the Lord’s dressing room two decades earlier. It felt as if a circle had finally completed.
Then Akram Khan, Bangladesh’s first Test cricketer, presented him with a commemorative cap. BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul and Nazmul Abedin handed him a special crest. Bashar, captain of his first Test, and Shanto, captain of his 100th, together presented him with a jersey signed by all his teammates.
Although the Ireland team had no direct role in the ceremony, their presence completed the moment. The women’s national team players were also in the stands—almost all except captain Nigar Sultana.
Then came a short speech segment. Nazmul Hossain Shanto spoke with genuine emotion, echoing the thoughts of his teammates and cricket lovers across the nation.
“‘First of all, I want to thank you for this achievement, and I want to thank your family, who has always been there for you. We are very proud that you have been playing with us for so long and still enjoying the game. We try to play like you. We always want to follow you. I have been watching you since childhood, and we always look for inspiration from you.”
“I hope you will continue playing with us. Everyone talks about how hard you work, both on and off the field—your dedication, your passion. You always play for the team, always think about the team. You have never played for yourself. You always think about how to take the Test team forward. This is inspiring for all of us, especially for young cricketers.”
Finally, it was Mushfiqur’s turn. Holding the microphone, his eyes and face reflected emotion and contentment, his voice filled with gratitude.
‘‘Thank you everyone for giving me this wonderful opportunity. I want to thank everyone who came today. My whole family, my parents, especially my wife, who has sacrificed so much and spent many sleepless nights. My teammates, coaches, friends, and supporters—I am grateful to all of you. I wish the very best for the future of Bangladesh cricket.”
“I always try to give my hundred percent, as I always do. I thank the Ireland cricket team for being here today. I hope we celebrate this occasion with a great Test match.’’
This entire celebration wasn’t just about honoring one cricketer’s achievement—it was about Bangladesh’s journey of staying afloat, fighting on, overcoming every setback, big or small, and continuing to move forward.
And the name of that story — Mushfiqur Rahim.
