Sports Desk:

Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons paid tribute to Mushfiqur Rahim on Tuesday, saying that “his professionalism, his longevity and just his desire to play cricket for Bangladesh” set him apart, as the 38-year-old veteran is set to become the first Bangladeshi player to reach 100 Test matches for his country.

Bangladesh will take on Ireland in the second and final Test of the two-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur starting from Wednesday, which is being regarded as “Mushi’s Test” for the home side.

Simmons, who played for the West Indies in the 1980s and ’90s and witnessed some of the greats of the game reach their 100th Tests, was asked about Mushfiqur’s milestone during the pre-match press conference.

“Well, I think first of all, we have to acknowledge his professionalism and his longevity and just his desire to play cricket for Bangladesh,” he said. “Because to get 100 Test matches — Bangladesh doesn’t play 15 a year — so it has taken him a period of time and we must appreciate that. And I think, from working with him for this short time, the professionalism is extremely high, and I will be so happy for him tomorrow when that occasion comes,” he added.

He also lauded Mushfiqur for his continued success and endurance in the longest format of the game. “I think his secret is professionalism — it’s how you carry yourself, how you work at improving your game, and how you work at being successful at international level,” he said.

“Because when you look back, he has been successful at international level and that keeps him there. But there is also a desire in him — and in all the others who play 100 and 150 Test matches — to continue to do well. So, I think that’s the big thing we have to look at: the desire to continue to improve, to continue to get better, and perform at that level,” he added.

Simmons also highlighted how Mushfiqur’s long career can serve as an inspiration for the next generation of Test cricketers coming through the ranks.

“I think the message from him — and what I see in him — is the professional side: how he carries himself, how he trains, but also how he wants to try and get better. And at this level, you cannot be stagnant — you always have to try and get better because the cricketing world is very small now with technology. People are assessing you all the time, so you have to always try and evolve. And I’m sure he has evolved many times since he started,” he said.