Mushfiqur Rahim has long been the backbone of Bangladesh's batting in the One-Day International (ODI) format, embodying the grit and determination that defined his generation. Renowned for his relentless work ethic, Mushfiqur's dedication has often drawn admiration -- yet at times, even criticism. As he bids farewell to ODIs, former Bangladesh captain and selector Habibul Bashar spoke with The Daily Star's Abdullah Al Mehdi to reflect on Mushfiqur's career, his impact on the game, and the legacy he leaves behind. The following are excerpts of the interview:

The Daily Star (DS): How would you describe Mushfiqur's performances over such a long period of time?

Habibul Bashar (HB): He's a genuine performer, for whom cricket is everything. Many have individual preferences -- some love movies, for some it's music, and others enjoy roaming around. He is one cricketer who loves playing cricket, and he is different from everybody else. It's a rich career, and when you play for so many years, it's not because of name but because of performances. I was his captain and then selector, and I have been with him for a long time in his career. So he's one of those players who selected himself. It didn't need to be discussed. He is that kind of player.

DS: As a former cricketer, how do you see him having held on to the middle-order role for such a long period of time in white-ball cricket?

HB: I am happy that he brought the curtain down himself, that no one else had done it for him. The end means in the ODI format because he is a current player for me, and he hasn't retired from Tests. He wrote his story himself, and it is deserving because he is a legend. I feel that Mushfiqur has set an example for everyone -- the young cricketers who will take up the game. He has set a standard on what to do in international cricket and how dedicated you have to be.

DS: Mushfiqur has been one of those who showed technical sharpness against genuine fast bowlers of the previous era. Where would you place his batsmanship from a technical point of view?

HB: Top of the list without a doubt. I don't think we can argue on that. The first thing we discussed about him was, this guy has got a sound technique. He's technically perfect. The technique you need to succeed in international cricket -- that's what he had. Back then, Khaled Masud was a brilliant wicketkeeper and a handy batsman, but Mushfiqur replaced him because he's a genuine batsman.

He improved day by day. There are many examples of players who start well, and we say good things about them, but then it doesn't continue. But with Mushfiqur, he kept honing himself. He improved his strike rate, range of shots, and the biggest thing was the hard work he put in. Obviously, talent was there, and you need that, but with that, the hard work was always there.

DS: Do you feel Mushfiqur is the last 'classic' batter of the country, given the kind of batters we used to see in the 90s but not anymore?

HB: One of the reasons such batters don't come around is T20 cricket. The format is such that from childhood, everyone is learning about the bat swing. In that case, the 'classic' nature decreases. I don't know what will happen in the future. Not just here, I feel this issue is also present in world cricket today. I'm not sure whether a player like Sachin would come through. Although India have produced players like Shubman Gill, the number of players like this is decreasing. Especially in the middle order, batters such as Mushy don't come.

DS: Mushfiqur's hard work often comes under criticism because it has not produced the results the fans perhaps wanted. How do you see this?

HB: I don't feel that way since I believe that's his life, his career. For a player, what's important is to be clear about his own career and take his own decisions. Not everything works the same for everyone. Someone has to do four rounds while running, and it may be three for some. Everyone has a different body and mindset. But there is no alternative to hard work. Mushfiqur -- if you see his strike rate at the beginning and in the end -- you will see a big change. He did that through hard work. I won't criticise him. Maybe he comes during a holiday to practise, and maybe some don't like that, but you can't see that in a bad light. In the future, those that want to play, you show them what dedication and sacrifice look like.

DS: Do you feel Mushfiqur would have regrets after ending his ODI career?

HB: I think there will be definite regret that he wasn't able to win a big tournament. There will be regret that after going close, there was no big tournament. At the end of the day, overlooking individual records, everyone wants to do something for the team. A player knows what that regret is about, but from his part, he has done his job.

DS: How do you want his Test career to end, and do you feel he can keep going?

HB: Surely he can. It becomes difficult at 40-41 (age). What I understand is that it becomes difficult at the end, and when you grow up with challenges, at one time it doesn't feel well. You want to rest. When that sets in, it becomes difficult. Physically, it's not a big issue. I think he is still fit, but it still depends on his mentality -- on how much he enjoys taking on challenges. I don't see why he can't play Tests for one or two more years.