The masses had turned these five cricketers into icons, placed them above every other Bangladesh cricketer and showered them with all the love they could muster. But why?

Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam pointed out that the wealth of experience amongst players of his side gave them the edge in the historic 2-0 Test series win against Pakistan last week.

Veteran Bangladesh Mushfiqur Rahim has reached career-best ICC Test ranking of 17th following his epic 191 against Pakistan in the first Test in Rawalpindi, which Bangladesh won by 10 wickets last week.

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan slammed the country’s current cricket board chief Mohsin Naqvi and blamed him for taking Pakistan cricket ‘to a new low’ after the Test side lost the first of the two-match series against Bangladesh by 10 wickets in Rawalpindi on Sunday.

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto lauded the team effort in Rawalpindi following a 10-wicket win -- the very first Test win in Pakistan – and signified the effort the players put during preparations.

Bangladesh made history by securing their first-ever Test victory over Pakistan, triumphing by 10 wickets in the opening match of the two-Test series.

Mushfiqur yesterday reached another such mountaintop in the first of two Tests against hosts Pakistan, becoming the first Bangladesh player to score a Test century in Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka -- hence conquering the Asian summit.

All-rounder Mehedi Hasan Miraz said that a fiery first hour from the Bangladesh bowlers on Day 5 of the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi can create an unlikely opening for the Tigers in a contest that seemingly is heading towards a draw.

Mushfiqur Rahim overtook Tamim Iqbal as Bangladesh’s leading scorer in away Tests during the second session on Day 4 of the first Test against Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Bangladesh batters had one of their better days in Pakistani conditions in the sweltering heat of Rawalpindi yesterday where a number of batters put their hands up to help the side reach 316 for five at stumps, 132 runs behind Pakistan’s first innings score.

In a Test career spanning over 19 years, Mushfiqur Rahim has accomplished more in the red-ball format than most Bangladeshis.

“I didn’t bat [in second innings] because of my injury. I got hurt while batting in the nets. Hopefully, I will recover quickly and play the first Test,” the 37-year-old said in a video sent to the media on Saturday.

Bangladesh Cricket Board announced separate squads for its forthcoming Pakistan tour.

Bangladesh cricketer Mushfiqur Rahim has expressed his dismay over the violence regarding students’ quota reform protests, which have already claimed six lives and left hundreds injured across the country in the last two days.

The national team stars, who are not playing franchise cricket outside the country, will join Bangladesh Tigers or partake in individual sessions following their break as per team management’s plans as the focus shifts back to red-ball cricket with the two-Test tour to Pakistan in August coming up. 

The incident happened at the 33.4 over mark of the Prime Bank innings when Mushfiqur’s lofted shot against off spinner Nayeem Hasan was caught at deep mid-wicket by Abu Haider Rony, who mounted a terrific effort rolling to the ground while taking the catch.

“This many people usually don’t turn up to see a fitness test at six in the morning. I’m sure they are here because it’s happening at the Bangabandhu [National] Stadium,” said Shahriar Nafees, the current cricket operations manager, after the national team’s fitness test at the famed venue yesterday.

Many cricketers shared a glimpse of their Eid celebrations for fans on social media

Bangladesh team’s assistant coach Nic Pothas yesterday said the Test team’s batting unit is going through a rebuilding stage and everyone needs to remain patient, a statement that contradicts what other important figures of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had said in the days prior.

Towhid Hridoy earned a maiden call-up to the Bangladesh Test side as the young batter replaces experienced campaigner Mushfiqur Rahim in the squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka which will begin at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Friday.