Mominul sees opportunity to crack jokes with Mushfiqur on 99

When the umpires were discussing calling an end to the first day's play in the second Test, Bangladesh requested one more over. But time had already elapsed, leaving Mushfiqur Rahim stranded on 99 not out in his landmark 100th Test.

Known as one of Bangladesh's most serious cricketers, Mushfiqur often draws teasing comments from teammates about his intense demeanour. So Mominul Haque was asked whether the rest of the dressing room would now be extra cautious around him as he sat one run short of a century.

Mominul brushed aside the suggestion, saying the idea that players cannot joke with Mushfiqur is "not quite right". The left-hander quipped that since it was only the first day of the Test, there was still plenty of time to crack jokes with the senior batter.

"No, no, it's not what you think. He's the same as he always is," Mominul said at the post-day press conference. "Maybe now I can joke around even more because with each passing day, there's more time," he added, indicating that the team saw the lighter side of the situation.

As much as Mushfiqur would have loved to reach his century before stumps, he remained composed and played a solid hand as Bangladesh finished the day on 292 for 4.

Mominul said all the players were eager to see Mushfiqur reach three figures. With three runs needed in the final over, the Tigers pushed for an extra one, but the request was denied as Ireland had slowed the over-rate considerably in the last session.

"Who wouldn't want it?" Mominul said. "Everyone wanted that extra over because both Mushfiqur and Litton Das had milestones coming up. They [Ireland] were definitely slow, very slow, but everyone wanted the over."

On Day Two, Mushfiqur will face the first ball, and Bangladesh hope he will go well beyond his hundred on his 100th Test.

"Panic is rare with Mushfiqur, by the grace of God," Mominul said. "If it were someone else, maybe I would have panicked. But since he's there, I believe he won't panic -- and neither will we. It will happen tomorrow, God willing."