Cricket is like the life-blood of Bangladeshi people. The reason why this game has progressed so much in Bangladesh is its great love and passion for it among the people of Bangladesh. Quietly but outstandingly, some of our veteran cricketers have been creating history and proving they are next to none in world’s cricket. The same also deserve accolade and recognition in national life to cheer them on and cricket too.
Dimunitive in form but not in prowess and staying power, small man Mushfiqur has been doing his own name proud and the history of cricket in Bangladesh great by his greater and greater achievements over the years. Last Thursday he reached a milestone in his career when he scored the tenth Test century of his career (three of them being double centuries in an innings) and passing the accumulation of 5,000 Test runs against his name.
Let us not forget that Mushfiqur has been a Test match wicketkeeper almost unbroken for the last two decades with many catches and stumpings to his credit. That makes him an outstanding all rounder by all standards of the game. too.
Surpassing the 5,000 Test runs mark he now joins the Ivy League of the likes of Dan Bradman and Garry Sobers, the dream of all upcoming cricketers in the world. More importantly, it should be noted that there are more cricketers in Bangladesh waiting in the wings to join the rank of Mushfiqur in scoring 5,000 Test runs and they are probably dozen runs or little more away from this feat. This also speaks loudly about the coming up of a handful of more outstanding cricketers in all these years in Bangladesh who are continuing to make Bangladesh cricket great.
As for Bangladesh, Mushfiqur is an iconic figure in all respects who will be missed and remembered even after he retires or gone from Bangladesh cricket. Forever with a smile in his face and cheering his team in the field (specially from behind the stumps), the Little Master as he is also fondly called, has been a fountain of inspiration for his team even during its darkest hours. He has not only played the game to the best of his ability but always sought to keep his felloe cricketers inspired, committed and capably led.
A simple man in normal life, he is a loving father and known for his God fearing qualities. It is always a sight when Mushfiqur after scoring a century kneels before Almighty Allah and expresses his gratitude. Mushfiq watchers will never be able to separate him from this vision of submission to God in such moments of delight and celebration.
We from this paper welcome this outstanding feat of scoring 5,000 Test runs by Mushfiqur and we also realize that the feelings of happiness is shared by millions of cricketers not only in this country but also around the world. We also believe and hope that it is far from writing the epitaph on Mushfiqur and the best is yet to come from this outstanding cricketer.