Taijul Islam Archives

Taijul Islam breaks Shakib Al Hasan’s record during Ireland Test

DHAKA: Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam etchede his name into record books as he surpassed Shakib Al Hasan to become Bangladesh leading wicket-taker in Test cricket.

Taijul, 33, increased his tally to 248 wickets, surpassing Shakib’s record of 246 wickets in the longest format of the game.

He achieved the milestone during the second Test against Ireland in the sixth over of their second innings at the Shere Bangla National Stadium here on Saturday.

Most Wickes for Bangladesh in Test Cricket

Taijul Islam 249* wickets in 58 matches
Shakib Al Hasan 246 wickets in 71 matches
Mehidy Hasan Miraz 209* wickets in 56 matches

The 33-year-old stood at 246 wickets before heading into the second Test of the series. With Ireland requiring a daunting 509 to chase, Taijul chipped in the ball and trapped opener Andy Balbirnie to record a historic feat.

Notably, right-arm off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz is third on the list with 209 wickets to his name in 56 matches.

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At stumps on day four, Taijul Islam put Bangladesh into a commanding position to win the series 2-0. The visitors are 176-6 with 333 runs more required to win the game.

The spinner had so far picked three wickets in his 20 overs.

Bangladesh remained dominant throughout the match after opting to bat first and racked up 476 runs in their first innings, courtesy of fine centuries from Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das.

In reply, Ireland were bowled out for only 265 in their first innings, followed by another abysmal show with the bat in their second innings.

For the unversed, Taijul has spearheaded Bangladesh’s spin attack in Test matches in the past couple of years and has scalped 17 five-wicket hauls alongside two ten-fers in 58 games.

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Bangladesh spinner expresses readiness for Test captaincy

Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam has expressed his desire to lead the national team in Test cricket after Najmul Hossain Shanto stepped down from the position.

Shanto resigned as captain following the team’s crushing defeat by an innings and 78 runs in the second Test against Sri Lanka last month, bringing an end to his tenure less than a year after taking charge.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has not yet announced a replacement for Shanto. However, Taijul Islam has expressed his interest in stepping in.

Speaking to local media on Tuesday, the 33-year-old stated that he feels prepared to take on the responsibility, highlighting his experience and composure as important strengths.

“I believe I have experience, there’s no reason I can’t do the job if it’s offered. It’s not about being greedy, I believe if the responsibility is given to me, I believe I can carry it,” he said.

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He stressed that leadership isn’t about status but about having a long-term vision.

“A captain should have a long-term view for the team. You need to have a goal, like where you want to see your team two years from now. And that goal must be supported by the team management,” he added.

Taijul Islam also underscored the importance of backing the captain fully, suggesting that belief in leadership often translates into better team performances.

“I think it is important to give space to the captain and to value his perspective, because the team performs well when there is faith in leadership,” he further stated.

While Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who recently took over as ODI captain, remains in the conversation for red-ball leadership, Taijul’s red-ball consistency and seniority could work in his favour.

Since 2021, the left-armer has elevated his game, especially overseas, where he previously struggled.

“There are several factors. Age is one at this stage, you can pitch the ball exactly where you want. Experience is another,” he explained.

“Before 2021, I hadn’t played many overseas Tests. That experience has helped me improve gradually.”

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Taijul Islam spins Bangladesh to level Test series with West Indies

KINGSTON: Taijul Islam snared five wickets for the 15th time in a Test innings to lead Bangladesh to a series-levelling 101-run victory over the West Indies on the fourth evening of the second and final Test at Sabina Park on Tuesday.

After Jaker Ali’s Test-best innings of 91 lifted the tourists to 268 all out in their second innings and left the home team with a daunting victory target of 287, Taijul Islam broke the back of the Caribbean side’s effort with five for 50 as they were dismissed for 185 in the day’s final session.

Fast bowler Nahid Rana, whose maiden five-wicket haul in the first innings pulled Bangladesh back into contention, had the satisfaction of administering the final rites when he yorked last man Shamar Joseph for his only wicket of the innings.

“It’s a great feeling to win a Test match abroad which we don’t often do and all the boys really put in a tremendous effort,” said player-of-the-match Islam.

Seamers Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud took two wickets each with Taskin emerging as the leading wicket-taker in the brief series with 11 victims to his name.

Kavem Hodge top-scored for the West Indies with 55, while captain Kraigg Brathwaite played with unusual adventure at the top of the order, contributing 43 off 63 deliveries.

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But they lost wickets at regular intervals and eventually succumbed in just 50 overs as Bangladesh swiftly avenged the 201-run mauling they endured in the first Test in Antigua a week earlier.

“We wanted to be positive and I thought we started well but obviously we couldn’t carry it through to the end of the day,” said Brathwaite.

This was the first Test victory for Bangladesh in the West Indies since their 2-0 sweep over a depleted Caribbean side in 2009.

Earlier Ali’s belligerent innings, which occupied 106 deliveries and was embellished by eight fours and five sixes, tilted the balance heavily in favour of Bangladesh as the highest successful run-chase in a Test at Sabina Park was the 212 achieved by the West Indies over Sri Lanka in 2003.

Such was the extent of the 26-year-old right-hander’s dominance of the morning that he contributed 62 of the 75 runs added by the tourists after resuming at the overnight position of 193-5.

Alzarri Joseph and Kemar Roach took three wickets each for the West Indies, Joseph ending Ali’s quest for a maiden Test hundred when he was last out, caught at deep midwicket a half-hour before lunch.

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