BAN vs SL | Mushfiqur Rahim becomes first Bangladesh player to score 5000 Test runs

Mushfiqur Rahim has become the first ever player from Bangladesh to reach the milestone of 5000 Test runs during the fourth day of the ongoing first Test match against Sri Lanka in Chattogram.

Coming into this Test match, the 34-year-old was Bangladesh’s leading run scorer in Tests with 4932 runs. After coming out to bat at number five in this innings, needing 68 runs to achieve the feat, Mushfiqur crossed the landmark by taking a couple off Asitha Fernando towards the fine leg in the morning session of the fourth day of the ongoing Test.

Tamim Iqbal, who retired hurt on 133 during the 3rd day of the Test match, is currently at 4981 Test runs for Bangladesh. The left-handed opener became the country’s leading run-getter in Tests, surpassing Habibul Bashar’s 3026 career runs back in 2015. 

He later became the first one to score 4000 Test runs for Bangladesh. Since then, there has been a constant battle between Tamim and Mushfiqur to keep that record of leading run-getters in Test for Bangladesh. 

Mushfiqur, who made his debut in 2005 at the age of 16 against England at Lord’s, started his career as a lower order batter. However, with time he became an integral part of Bangladesh’s batting unit, especially after becoming the captain in 2011. He was also the first Bangladeshi batter to score a double century in Test cricket. 

In fact, he became the first gloveman to score two double centuries in Test cricket and still remains the only one to do so.

He is also Bangladesh’s most capped player in Test cricket, representing his nation in 81 Test matches. The Bogra-born batter has 6697 runs at an average of 36.79 in 233 ODIs and played 100 T20Is, making him the longest-serving international player from Bangladesh.