For 39-year-old Mushfiqur Rahim, stepping into the DXC Arena in Darwin for Bangladesh's opening training session was a long-awaited moment. As the team prepares for their first Test series in Australia since 2003, the veteran wicketkeeper-batter is finally poised to play his first Test on Australian soil after a career spanning more than 21 years. The upcoming two-Test series, part of the World Test Championship, begins on August 13. While the first group of the squad arrived in Darwin on Saturday, Litton Das and other remaining members who departed Dhaka on August 2 are expected to join the camp shortly.
Mushfiqur stands as the only active player from Bangladesh's famed 'Fab Five' who remains entirely focused on his playing career. His former teammates have moved on to various paths: Mashrafe Mortaza has shifted toward a political career, while Shakib Al Hasan balances franchise cricket with his history as an Awami League Member of Parliament. Tamim Iqbal has transitioned to the role of Bangladesh Cricket Board president, and Mahmudullah is currently pursuing coaching, including a stint with the Bangladesh A side for the Top End T20 Series.
Despite being the only Bangladeshi cricketer to surpass 100 Test matches, this tour represents a rare void in Mushfiqur's resume. Sources close to the player indicate that he had hoped for a return to Australia much sooner following his leadership during Bangladesh's historic 2017 Test win against Australia in Mirpur. To prepare for this challenge, Mushfiqur has been training extensively, even consulting friends in Australia to understand local conditions. He has opted for a lighter bat to better suit the expected pitch surfaces and has spent significant time in the nets specifically practicing against inswingers to counter the threat of Australian pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
Habibul Bashar, the BCB's chief selector and former captain, praised the veteran's dedication. Reflecting on the significance of the tour, Bashar noted that this will likely be Mushfiqur's final opportunity to play a Test in Australia. He emphasized that the player deserves this chance to fulfill his long-held ambition after years of relentless commitment to the sport.
Shakib, who left Bangladesh following the July 2024 movement that led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, continues to play franchise cricket around the world. However, his political association as a former Awami League Member of Parliament has come to define him as much as his cricket.
Mortaza, too, has largely remained away from public life since the political upheaval. Having entered politics in 2018 under the Awami League banner and contested successive general elections, his public identity has increasingly shifted from cricketer to politician.
