Mushfiqur Rahim - Career

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:

He comes from one of the most reputed and affluent families of his district. He could have had all the comfort in the world. Instead, he has decided to shape his life through hard work. His work ethic is exemplary, and he is absolutely single-minded about pursuing his goals – being successful in cricket and career. Mind you, he is academically very sound too. We have had individuals who have been far more talented than Rahim. But some have fallen by the wayside while others have not made the next leap forward. That is why he is different. He has not got distracted and hasn't lost focus. His level of determination is much higher than the average trainee and he carries himself with dignity. He is very polite and disciplined. You won't hear anything negative about him from anyone here.

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.