Mushfiq 1st B’deshi to score 5,000 Test runs

FE Team | Published: May 18, 2022 23:46:47

CHATTOGRAM, May 18 (Agencies): Mushfiqur Rahim became the first Bangladeshi cricketer to complete 5,000 Test runs on Wednesday when the hosts faced Sri Lanka in Chattogram.
Playing his 81st Test, the most for any player from Bangladesh, Mushfiqur resumed his innings on the fourth day of the first Test at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium 15 runs short of the milestone.
He achieved it when he nudged Asitha Fernando towards fine leg in the 16th over of the day for two runs.
The 35-year-old was however lucky to achieve the feat first.
Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal came close to it Tuesday when he struck 133 runs.
Tamim needed just 19 more to reach the 5,000-run mark. Tamim, who retired hurt on 133 on the third day following cramps on his back and wrist, is currently at 4981 runs.
Mushfiqur made his Test debut in 2005, five years after Bangladesh were awarded Test status. He is also the longest-serving international cricketer from the country.
Starting as a lower-middle-order batter, Mushfiqur took 20 Tests to reach 1000 Test runs. But his role in the Bangladesh team grew when he was made captain in 2011. The subsequent 1000-run milestones took 15, 17, 14 and 15 Tests respectively.
The wicketkeeper-batsman is also the first Bangladeshi to score a double hundred in Tests when he made 200, also against Sri Lanka, at Galle in 2013.
To score 5,000 runs, Mushfqiur needed 81 matches and 149 innings. Along the way, the batter scored seven hundred and 26 fifties in the longer format of the international cricket.
While Mushfiqur is now the top scorer for Bangladesh in Tests, Tamim is right behind him. Shakib Al Hasan and Mominul Haque are after them with 4,029 and 3,516 runs in 60 and 52 matches, respectively.
Mushfiqur got his Test cap in 2005 against England at the Lord's. Since then, he has been an integral part of the Bangladesh team in every format of the game. Mushfiqur has also made 6697 runs in ODIs and 1495 in T20s.