Mushfiqur Rahim
Encyclopedia
Mohammad Mushfiqur Rahim (born 1 September 1988) is a Bangladesh
i cricketer and captain of the national team. Between August 2009 and December 2010 Rahim served as Bangladesh's vice-captain. He specialises as a wicket-keeper and is a lower-order
batsman. Standing 5 in 3 in (1.6 m) tall, Mushfiqur Rahim is one of the most boisterous people on the field and is renowned for being extremely vocal behind the stumps.
Mushfiqur was selected for Bangladesh's tour of England in May and June 2005
. In what was Bangladesh's first tour of England, the team faced unfamiliar conditions and the batsmen struggled against seam bowling
. Mushfiqur adapted his batting style in the warm up matches, "consistently playing late and straight" according to Wisden
, and managed to score 63 against Sussex
and a career best 115 not out
against Northamptonshire
in the warm up matches. Although initially named in the squad as understudy for the wicket-keeping position, Mushfiqur's performances in the warm up matches led to his selection for the first Test at Lord's
as a specialist batsman. The 16-year-old scored 19 in the first innings and was one of just three batsman to reach double figures as Bangladesh were dismissed for 108. After twisting his ankle, Mushfiqur played no further part in the tour.
During the 2006 U-19 Cricket World Cup
, hosted by Sri Lanka in February, Rahim captained the Bangladesh side
which included future international players Shakib Al Hasan
and Tamim Iqbal
among others. Rahim was one of two players at the tournament with Test-match experience. Under his guidance Bangladesh reached the quarter finals of the tournament. Later that month Rahim was recalled to the senior Test squad for the first time since the England tour in 2005. He was selected as a specialist batsmen, with Khaled Mashud
chosen as the wicket-keeper for the series against Sri Lanka
.
Rahim was included in Bangladesh's senior squad to tour Zimbabwe for five ODIs in July 2006
. He was one of three uncapped ODI players included in the squad alongside all-rounders Farhad Reza
and Shakib Al Hasan
. He scored his maiden half-century at Harare
against Zimbabwe and was picked as the first-choice wicket-keeper ahead of Mashud for the World Cup in the West Indies
. Rahim was chosen because his batting was considered better.
Rahim was recalled for the second Test against Sri Lanka in July 2007
, replacing Mashud as it was felt that Rahim was in better form. Although Bangladesh lost by an innings and 90 runs, Rahim combined with Mohammad Ashraful
– the new captain – to score a record 191 for Bangladesh's sixth-wicket partnership. Mushfiqur scored 80, beating his previous best score in Tests of 19. In December 2007, the Bangladesh Cricket Board
(BCB) granted Rahim a one-year grade B (third tier) contract, one of 22 central contracts with the Board at the time.
Following the World Cup, Rahim endured a series of poor scores, including five innings in which he amassed four runs altogether. As a result when South Africa toured in March for three ODIs and Bangladesh went to Pakistan for five ODIs the next month, Rahim was dropped in favour of Dhiman Ghosh
. Rahim was recalled to the squad for a tri-series with Pakistan and India and the 2008 Asia Cup
. When 17 contracts were announced in April 2009, Rahim's was renewed, marking Rahim as Bangladesh's first choice 'keeper.
. The position was vacated as the previous holder, Shakib Al Hasan
, was filling-in as captain for the injured Mashrafe Mortaza
. Bangladesh won the five match ODI series4–1, and in the final fixture Rahim scored 98, beating his previous highest score in list A matches of 58, to help his team to victory. With 169 runs in the series at an average of 56.33, Rahim was Bangladesh's fourth-highest run scorer.
Rahim retained the vice-captaincy for the Home Test Series against India in January and February 2010, and on 21 January, the fifth day of the first Test, he scored his maiden Test century and the fastest by a Bangladeshi in Test cricket, off only 112 balls as Bangladesh delayed an Indian victory, being the last man out as India won by 113 runs. http://www.cricinfo.com/bdeshvind2010/content/current/story/445245.html England toured Bangladesh in February and March
for two Tests and three ODIs. Bangladesh lost all five match. Rahim at least had a successful series and was his team's second-highest run-scorer in the ODIs and Tests. Rahim scored two half-centuries in the first Test, becoming the 6th Bangladesh batsman to perform the feat. Having impressed at home, Rahim's performance in the return tour in England in May
was expected to be crucial to how well Bangladesh performed. In the event, he could manage just 40 runs from two Tests as Bangladesh's batsmen struggled in English conditions and slumped to a 2–0 defeat. The teams were due to face each other in a three-match ODI series after the Tests. In the first fixture Rahim was struck in the face while keeping wicket to spinner Faisal Hossain
. An x-ray revealed no fractures, however as a precaution he was rested for a week, missing the rest of the series.
At the start of November, the BCB announced 16 central contracts. Rahim was one of six players in the top level. Later that month, Rahim recorded his best score in a one day match. Playing for Rajshahi in the National Cricket League
, he scored 114 from 120 deliveries as his team lost by 8 runs. In December 2010, Tamim Iqbal
replaced Rahim as Bangladesh's vice-captain. Rahim was included in Bangladesh's 15-man squad for the 2011 World Cup. Bangladesh were knocked out in the group stage and Rahim had a poor tournament personally. There were suggestions that he could be dropped, especially as fellow wicket-keeper Dhiman Ghosh was scoring heavily in Bangladesh's domestic competition. In August 2011, Mushfiqur hit 101 from 100 balls having his second century against Zimbabwe was not enough to stop Bangladesh losing the third one-day series by five runs.
in October for a T20I, three ODIs, and two Tests. In his first international match as captain, Rahim produced a Man-of-the-Match performance, scoring 41 not out from 26 balls to help his team to victory with one delivery to spare in the only T20I. Bangladesh lost the ODI series 2–1 and Rahim was his team's leading run-scorer with 100, including an innings of 69.
in 2010, then the Bangladesh coach, Rahim's batting is versatile enough that he can bat anywhere in the top order, from one to six.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
i cricketer and captain of the national team. Between August 2009 and December 2010 Rahim served as Bangladesh's vice-captain. He specialises as a wicket-keeper and is a lower-order
Batting order (cricket)
In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time...
batsman. Standing 5 in 3 in (1.6 m) tall, Mushfiqur Rahim is one of the most boisterous people on the field and is renowned for being extremely vocal behind the stumps.
Career
Before playing for the senior national team, Rahim played for Bangladesh Under-19s. He represented them in three Youth Tests and 18 Youth One Day Internationals (ODIs) between 2004 and 2006, averaging 31.75 and 36.00 with the bat in the respective formats. His only half-century in the Tests came against England. Rahim trained at the Bangladesh Institute of Sports. His coach there, Mohammad Salahuddin, praised his hard work, commenting:Bangladeshi cricket team in England in 2005
Michael Vaughan won the toss and put Bangladesh in to bat at 10.30am on the first day at Lord's. The first ten overs of bowling by Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard were lacklustre, as neither mastered the early-morning swing and they bowled a wide line. A stronger side would have scored more runs...
. In what was Bangladesh's first tour of England, the team faced unfamiliar conditions and the batsmen struggled against seam bowling
Seam bowling
Seam bowling is a phrase used for a bowling technique in cricket whereby the ball is deliberately bowled on to its seam, to cause a random deviation. Practitioners are known as seam bowlers or seamers....
. Mushfiqur adapted his batting style in the warm up matches, "consistently playing late and straight" according to Wisden
Wisden
The Wisden Group was a group of companies formed by John Wisden & Co Ltd, publishers of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. As well as John Wisden & Co, the group included the The Wisden Cricketer magazine, Cricinfo – the world's highest traffic cricket website – and the Hawk-Eye computerised...
, and managed to score 63 against Sussex
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
and a career best 115 not out
Not out
In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...
against Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...
in the warm up matches. Although initially named in the squad as understudy for the wicket-keeping position, Mushfiqur's performances in the warm up matches led to his selection for the first Test at Lord's
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
as a specialist batsman. The 16-year-old scored 19 in the first innings and was one of just three batsman to reach double figures as Bangladesh were dismissed for 108. After twisting his ankle, Mushfiqur played no further part in the tour.
During the 2006 U-19 Cricket World Cup
2006 U-19 Cricket World Cup
The 2006 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup was played in Sri Lanka from February 5 to February 19, 2006.The final was played between Pakistan and India in Colombo, which Pakistan won by 38 runs, enabling them to become the first back-to-back champions of the tournament.- Participating Nations :Sixteen...
, hosted by Sri Lanka in February, Rahim captained the Bangladesh side
Bangladeshi U-19 cricket team
The Bangladeshi Under-19 cricket team have been playing official Under-19 ODI matches since 1997 including competing in the last five World Cups. They have also played eight youth Tests since 2004...
which included future international players Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan is a Bangladeshi international cricketer of the national team. He is an all-rounder, batting left-handed in the middle order and bowling slow left-arm orthodox. He represented Bangladesh at under-19 level, 18 Youth One Day Internationals between 2005 and 2006...
and Tamim Iqbal
Tamim Iqbal
Tamim Iqbal Khan is a Bangladeshi cricketer who played in the 2006 U-19 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka. Tamim made his One Day International debut in 2007 and played his first Test the following year. Between December 2010 and September 2011 he was vice-captain of the national side. He plays his...
among others. Rahim was one of two players at the tournament with Test-match experience. Under his guidance Bangladesh reached the quarter finals of the tournament. Later that month Rahim was recalled to the senior Test squad for the first time since the England tour in 2005. He was selected as a specialist batsmen, with Khaled Mashud
Khaled Mashud
Khaled Mashud is a Bangladeshi cricketer. A wicketkeeper and more than a useful middle order batsman, he was a regular member of the national team between 1995-2007. Bangladeshi coach Dav Whatmore has gone so far as to claim Mashud as the best wicketkeeper in Asia.-Early Days:Mashud played for...
chosen as the wicket-keeper for the series against Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan cricket team
The Sri Lankan cricket team is the national cricket team of Sri Lanka. The team first played international cricket in 1926–27, and were later awarded Test status in 1981, which made Sri Lanka the eighth Test cricket playing nation...
.
Rahim was included in Bangladesh's senior squad to tour Zimbabwe for five ODIs in July 2006
Bangladeshi cricket team in Zimbabwe in 2006
The Bangladeshi cricket team toured Zimbabwe from July 29 to August 6, 2006. The tour included only five One Day International, as Zimbabwe have voluntarily withdrawn from Test cricket....
. He was one of three uncapped ODI players included in the squad alongside all-rounders Farhad Reza
Farhad Reza
Farhad Reza is a Bangladeshi cricketer who made his One Day International debut against Zimbabwe in July 2006 and is the only batsman from Bangladesh to score a half century on debut. He is a right-handed middle order batsman and right arm fast-medium pace bowler and played domestic cricket for...
and Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan is a Bangladeshi international cricketer of the national team. He is an all-rounder, batting left-handed in the middle order and bowling slow left-arm orthodox. He represented Bangladesh at under-19 level, 18 Youth One Day Internationals between 2005 and 2006...
. He scored his maiden half-century at Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
against Zimbabwe and was picked as the first-choice wicket-keeper ahead of Mashud for the World Cup in the West Indies
2007 Cricket World Cup
The 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup was the ninth edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup tournament that took place in the West Indies from 13 March to 28 April 2007, using the sport's One Day International format...
. Rahim was chosen because his batting was considered better.
Rahim was recalled for the second Test against Sri Lanka in July 2007
Bangladeshi cricket team in Sri Lanka in 2007
The Bangladesh cricket team toured Sri Lanka for three Test matches and three One Day Internationals in June and July 2007. This series held Mohammad Ashraful's first Test and ODI matches as captain of Bangladesh...
, replacing Mashud as it was felt that Rahim was in better form. Although Bangladesh lost by an innings and 90 runs, Rahim combined with Mohammad Ashraful
Mohammad Ashraful
Mohammad Ashraful is a Bangladeshi international cricket player and has represented the Bangladesh national cricket team. A top-order batsman with a penchant for flashy strokeplay, he has also been selected to represent ACC Asia XI ODI side...
– the new captain – to score a record 191 for Bangladesh's sixth-wicket partnership. Mushfiqur scored 80, beating his previous best score in Tests of 19. In December 2007, the Bangladesh Cricket Board
Bangladesh Cricket Board
Bangladesh Cricket Board , previously known as the Bangladesh Cricket Control Board, is the main governing body of cricket in Bangladesh. The Board has its headquarters in Dhaka, it is responsible for the operation and development of cricket, maintenance of of venues, and selection for the...
(BCB) granted Rahim a one-year grade B (third tier) contract, one of 22 central contracts with the Board at the time.
Following the World Cup, Rahim endured a series of poor scores, including five innings in which he amassed four runs altogether. As a result when South Africa toured in March for three ODIs and Bangladesh went to Pakistan for five ODIs the next month, Rahim was dropped in favour of Dhiman Ghosh
Dhiman Ghosh
Dhiman Ghosh is a First class and List A cricketer from Bangladesh. He has played first cricket for Chittagong Division, making his debut in 2004/05, and represented Bangladesh through the age group levels...
. Rahim was recalled to the squad for a tri-series with Pakistan and India and the 2008 Asia Cup
2008 Asia Cup
Cricket's 2008 Asia Cup took place in Pakistan in June 2008. The six teams which took part in the tournament were Bangladesh, India, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the UAE. This was the first Asia Cup hosted by Pakistan; previously political tensions between India and Pakistan did not permit...
. When 17 contracts were announced in April 2009, Rahim's was renewed, marking Rahim as Bangladesh's first choice 'keeper.
Vice-captaincy
Rahim was appointed vice-captain for Bangladesh's tour of Zimbabwe in August 2009Bangladeshi cricket team in Zimbabwe in 2009
The Bangladesh cricket team toured Zimbabwe in 2009. They played five One Day Internationals against Zimbabwe. Due to Zimbabwe's self-imposed suspension from Test cricket, no Test matches were scheduled; instead, Zimbabwe have entered a team in the ICC Intercontinental Cup...
. The position was vacated as the previous holder, Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan is a Bangladeshi international cricketer of the national team. He is an all-rounder, batting left-handed in the middle order and bowling slow left-arm orthodox. He represented Bangladesh at under-19 level, 18 Youth One Day Internationals between 2005 and 2006...
, was filling-in as captain for the injured Mashrafe Mortaza
Mashrafe Mortaza
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza is a Bangladeshi cricketer. He broke into the national side in late 2001 against Zimbabwe and represented Bangladesh before having played a single first-class match...
. Bangladesh won the five match ODI series4–1, and in the final fixture Rahim scored 98, beating his previous highest score in list A matches of 58, to help his team to victory. With 169 runs in the series at an average of 56.33, Rahim was Bangladesh's fourth-highest run scorer.
Rahim retained the vice-captaincy for the Home Test Series against India in January and February 2010, and on 21 January, the fifth day of the first Test, he scored his maiden Test century and the fastest by a Bangladeshi in Test cricket, off only 112 balls as Bangladesh delayed an Indian victory, being the last man out as India won by 113 runs. http://www.cricinfo.com/bdeshvind2010/content/current/story/445245.html England toured Bangladesh in February and March
English cricket team in Bangladesh in 2009–10
The England cricket team toured Bangladesh, playing three One Day Internationals and two Test matches, at the end of the 2009–10 cricket season. They were captained by Alastair Cook, due to regular captain Andrew Strauss controversially missing the series to rest for the 2010–11 Ashes series...
for two Tests and three ODIs. Bangladesh lost all five match. Rahim at least had a successful series and was his team's second-highest run-scorer in the ODIs and Tests. Rahim scored two half-centuries in the first Test, becoming the 6th Bangladesh batsman to perform the feat. Having impressed at home, Rahim's performance in the return tour in England in May
Bangladeshi cricket team in England in 2010
-2nd Test:-1st ODI:-2nd ODI:-3rd ODI:-First Class: Surrey vs Bangladeshis:-First Class: Bangladeshis vs Essex:-First Class: Bangladeshis vs England Lions:-List A: Sussex vs Bangladeshis:-List A: Middlesex vs Bangladeshis:...
was expected to be crucial to how well Bangladesh performed. In the event, he could manage just 40 runs from two Tests as Bangladesh's batsmen struggled in English conditions and slumped to a 2–0 defeat. The teams were due to face each other in a three-match ODI series after the Tests. In the first fixture Rahim was struck in the face while keeping wicket to spinner Faisal Hossain
Faisal Hossain
Faisal Hossain is a Bangladeshi cricketer. He played international cricket for Bangladesh in 2004, one Test match and four One Day Internationals without establishing himself in the side. After poor performances at international level, Hossain drifted out of the international squad. He represents...
. An x-ray revealed no fractures, however as a precaution he was rested for a week, missing the rest of the series.
At the start of November, the BCB announced 16 central contracts. Rahim was one of six players in the top level. Later that month, Rahim recorded his best score in a one day match. Playing for Rajshahi in the National Cricket League
National Cricket League of Bangladesh
The National Cricket League is the domestic first class cricket competition in Bangladesh.The National Cricket League had in fact been inaugurated in the 1999–2000 season but was not then first-class...
, he scored 114 from 120 deliveries as his team lost by 8 runs. In December 2010, Tamim Iqbal
Tamim Iqbal
Tamim Iqbal Khan is a Bangladeshi cricketer who played in the 2006 U-19 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka. Tamim made his One Day International debut in 2007 and played his first Test the following year. Between December 2010 and September 2011 he was vice-captain of the national side. He plays his...
replaced Rahim as Bangladesh's vice-captain. Rahim was included in Bangladesh's 15-man squad for the 2011 World Cup. Bangladesh were knocked out in the group stage and Rahim had a poor tournament personally. There were suggestions that he could be dropped, especially as fellow wicket-keeper Dhiman Ghosh was scoring heavily in Bangladesh's domestic competition. In August 2011, Mushfiqur hit 101 from 100 balls having his second century against Zimbabwe was not enough to stop Bangladesh losing the third one-day series by five runs.
Captaincy
On 20 September 2011, Rahim was named Bangladesh captain, taking over from Shakib Al Hasan after a disappointing tour of Zimbabwe. The announcement was made midway through the BCB Cup, a tournament involving the senior Bangladesh team, Bangladesh A, and a side made up of academy players. Rahim had already been captaining Bangladesh in the tournament on a temporary basis. The competition was won by Bangladesh A. Bangladesh's next international engagement was hosting the West IndiesWest Indian cricket team in Bangladesh in 2011–12
The West Indies cricket team toured Bangladesh in October 2011. The tour consisted of one Twenty20 , two matches and three One Day Internationals .-Squads:-Bangladesh Cricket Board XI v West Indians:-Bangladesh Cricket Board XI v West Indians:...
in October for a T20I, three ODIs, and two Tests. In his first international match as captain, Rahim produced a Man-of-the-Match performance, scoring 41 not out from 26 balls to help his team to victory with one delivery to spare in the only T20I. Bangladesh lost the ODI series 2–1 and Rahim was his team's leading run-scorer with 100, including an innings of 69.
Playing style
According to Jamie SiddonsJamie Siddons
James Darren Siddons , commonly known as "Jamie", is an Australian cricketer, renowned for his involvement in Sheffield Shield first-class cricket over a 16-year career. He initially played for Victoria, and later for South Australia....
in 2010, then the Bangladesh coach, Rahim's batting is versatile enough that he can bat anywhere in the top order, from one to six.