Published : Wednesday, 12 December, 2018 at 12:00 AM
Ahasan Uddin Bhuiyan
Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal during the 2nd ODI match between Bangladesh and West Indies at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday. photo: Shahad A. Raju
Top five senior campaigners of Bangladesh cricket Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullha Riyad were to dossier the stunning record of playing 100 international matches apart. The 'Pancha Pandavas' of Bangladesh cricket appeared for the centennial match yesterday (on Tuesday) against visiting Windies at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka. The fantastic five of Bangladesh cricket featured in 69 ODIs, 29 T20 internationals and one Test match together before Tuesday. The big-five stars in the last match as well. Shakib Al Hasan was on top with 65 runs followed by Mushfiqur Rahim's 62, Tamim Iqbal's 50 and Mahmudullha Riyad's 30 runs scores. Mash, on the other hand, picked up the wicket of his counterpart Rovman Powell as his solitary claim of the day. The ace all-rounder Shakib was also brilliant with ball although he remained wicketless but delivered thankful 10-over to spend 28 runs only. Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal stood the 111 runs 3rd wickets partnership, which is the 5th 100 plus partnership, the maximum numbers of three digit ODI partnership. The second highest Tigers 100 plus partnership are also stood by two of the quintet and they are one other than Shakib-Mushi pair. They made it happened for four times. Tigers quintet wrote lots of success stories for the nation. Their collaborative performances raised Bangladesh cricket to a height to be jealous by any emerging side. Bangladesh played the quarter-finals the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015 in Australia followed by the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in England and Wales. They also took their teams to the final of the Asia Cup couple of occasions. Bangladesh beat all the super powers of cricket during the golden era of their cricket. They clinched bilateral series against mighty India, South Africa and Pakistan.