Malan praises Mushfiqur’s ‘consistency behind the scenes’ ahead of 100th Test

Bangladesh veteran Mushfiqur Rahim is set to make history on Wednesday, playing his 100th Test--the first Bangladeshi cricketer to reach this rare milestone.

A long career spanning 20 years, Mushfiqur has distinguished himself through discipline and hard work. This journey has brought him to the doorstep of a historic moment as Bangladesh prepares to play the second Test against Ireland at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur from Wednesday, following their victory in the first Test at Sylhet.

For Ireland, facing a player of such endurance provides insight into the dedication required to sustain a long international career.

Even without a close personal connection, Ireland coach Heinrich Malan has observed Mushfiqur's habits on and off the field. "I see him at the hotel every morning at 6:15, having breakfast and heading straight to warm-ups. He's hitting balls and stretching before others even arrive. That consistency behind the scenes is what allows him to perform when it counts."

Malan, speaking to the media ahead of the match, praised Mushfiqur's professionalism.

Reflecting on what 100 Tests represent, Malan added: "It's a great achievement. We've only played 10 Tests ourselves, so seeing someone reach 100 shows endurance and a lot of hard work. If you add it up, that's hundreds of hours of warm-ups and preparation. It's a lesson in how demanding Test cricket is."

Malan also spoke about the Mirpur pitch's spin challenge and expressed confidence in his team. "History shows us that it spins here, which I think we can all agree on. The numbers show Bangladesh often pick one seamer and three spinners over a continual period of time on this ground. We'll adapt accordingly from a playing-11 perspective and hopefully put out a combination that competes over five days of this Test match," he said.