Simmons lauds Mushfiqur's professionalism ahead of his 100th Test

Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons said on Tuesday that Mushfiqur Rahim's professionalism and desire to play for his country sets him apart as he is all set to become the first Bangladeshi player to play 100 Test matches when he walks down to play for the hosts in the series concluding second Test against Ireland at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Wednesday (November 19).

The second Test had already been labelled as "Mushi's Test" with the BCB offering free stadium entry for students and teachers from educational institutions. "The initiative has been taken to encourage greater youth involvement in Test cricket as Mushfiqur Rahim becomes the first Bangladeshi to reach the milestone of 100 Test matches during the game," BCB said in a statement.

Meanwhile, former national skipper Habibul Bashar, who presented Mushfiqur the first Test Cap, will present a special Test cap to him whereas Bangladesh's first Test centurion and current BCB president Aminul Islam will give him a special crest. Amidst all the celebration, Simmons insisted that everyone should acknowledge his professionalism.

"Well, I think first of all, we have to acknowledge his professionalism and his longevity and just his desire to play cricket for Bangladesh," Simmons told reporters ahead of the second Test. "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.

"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. 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 said adding that Mushfiqur's long career can serve as an inspiration for the next generation of Test cricketers.

"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."

Simmons added that he is expecting a good batting wicket for this final Test as it looks different from the one they played in the opening Test. "Look, the wicket, it looks different to West Indies ODI wickets. The wicket looks fairly good ," Simmons said at the pre-match press conference.

"Tomorrow morning when we come, we will see how it is, but it looks good and it looks like it could be good for batting at least first two, maybe two and a half days. So that's all you ask for in a Test match wicket, to be good enough and third and fourth day, we see what happens," he concluded.