Mohammad Mushfiqur Rahim (; born ) is a Bangladeshi professional cricketer who has played as a right-handed batter and wicket-keeper. Representing Bangladesh since 2005, he has accumulated over 16,000 career runs across the three international formats. , he holds the record for the most career runs in Test matches for Bangladesh.Bangladesh Test matches batting most runs career | ESPNcricinfo Rahim served as the captain of Bangladesh in Tests from 2011 to 2017, and in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20I) from 2011 to 2014.
In domestic cricket, he has represented Rajshahi Division in 2006 and from 2008 to 2024, and Sylhet Division in 2007 and since 2025. Rahim has played for several T20 franchises in the Bangladesh Premier League since 2012.
Early life and family Rahim was born on 9 May 1987 in Bogura, Bangladesh. Born to Mahbub Habib and Rahima Khatun, he finished his secondary schooling at Bogura Zilla School. In between playing cricket, he studied history at the Jahangirnagar University. He graduated with a master's degree from the university in 2012. He married Jannatul Kifayet Mondi in 2014. Mondi is the sister of Mahmudullah's wife, Jannatul Kawsar Mishti. Rahim had a son, Mayan, in 2018.
Early career
Before playing for the national team, Rahim played for Bangladesh Under-19s. He represented them in three Youth Tests and 18 Youth One Day Internationals (ODIs) between 2004 and 2006, averaging 31.75 and 36.00 with the bat in the respective formats. Rahim trained at the Bangladesh Institute of Sports.
During the 2006 U-19 Cricket World Cup, hosted by Sri Lanka in February, Rahim captained the Bangladesh team which included future international players Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal among others. Rahim was one of two players at the tournament with Test-match experience. Under his guidance Bangladesh reached the quarter finals of the tournament. Later that month Rahim was recalled to the senior Test squad for the first time since the England tour in 2005. He was selected as a specialist batsmen, with Khaled Mashud chosen as the wicket-keeper for the series against Sri Lanka.
Domestic and T20 franchise career At the domestic level he represents Rajshahi Division. In T20 cricket, all of Rahim's runs came playing for Bangladesh, Bangladesh A, Duronto Rajshahi, Nagenahira Nagas, Sylhet Royals, Chittagong Vikings, Karachi Kings, Barishal Bulls, Rajshahi Kings, Nangharhar Leopards, Khulna Tigers and Beximco Dhaka.
National Cricket League In December 2010, Rahim recorded his best score in a one-day match. Playing for Rajshahi in the National Cricket League, he scored 114 runs from 120 deliveries as his team lost by 8 runs.
Representing Rajshahi Division in domestic cricket, Rahim has over 6500 first-class runs to his name including twelve half-centuries and thirty four centuries.
Bangladesh Cricket League In the 2012-2013 season the match against Central Zone, got his 1st first-class wicket by dismissing Nurul Hasan playing for North Zone as he returned bowling figures of 1–23 in 10 overs.
Bangladesh Premier League The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) founded the six-team Bangladesh Premier League in 2012, a twenty20 tournament to be held in February that year. The BCB made Mushfiq the 'icon player' for Duronto Rajshahi. Under his leadership Duronto overcame a weak start to progress to the semi-finals where they lost to Barisal Burners; Rahim contributed 234 runs from 11 matches.
In January 2013, he was named in the squad for Sylhet Royals, following the draft for the 2013 season. He was the leading run-scorer in that tournament, with 440 runs in 13 matches at an average of 40.40.
In November 2016, he was named in the squad for the Barisal Bulls team, following the draft for the 2016–17 Bangladesh Premier League. He was one of the leading run scorers in that tournament, with 341 runs in 12 matches at an average of 37.88, which included two half-centuries.
In October 2018, he was named in the squad for the Chittagong Vikings team, following the draft for the 2018–19 Bangladesh Premier League. He was the leading run-scorer for the team in the tournament, with 426 runs in thirteen matches.
In November 2019, he was selected to play for the Khulna Tigers in the 2019–20 Bangladesh Premier League. He was the second highest run-scorer in that tournament, scoring 491 runs in 14 matches, at an average of 70.14 which included 4 half-centuries. He also posted his career-best knock of 98* runs against Cumilla Warriors.
In November 2022, he was named in the Sylhet Strikers' squad, following the players draft for the 2022–23 Bangladesh Premier League. On 10 January 2023, in the 10th match against the Dhaka Dominators, he became the first cricketer to play 100 matches in the Bangladesh Premier League.
In January 2024, he was named in the Fortune Barishal's squad, following the players draft for the 2024 Bangladesh Premier League.
Afghanistan Premier League In September 2018, he was named in Nangarhar's squad in the first edition of the Afghanistan Premier League tournament.
Bangabandhu T20 Cup He played for Beximco Dhaka in 2020-21 Bangabandhu T20 Cup.
International career 2005–2006 Rahim was selected for Bangladesh's tour of England in 2005. It was Bangladesh's first tour of England, where they faced unfamiliar conditions and the batsmen struggled against seam bowling and uneven bounce throughout the series. Rahim adapted his batting style in the warm up matches, "consistently playing late and straight" according to Wisden, and managed to score 63 runs against Sussex and scored 115 runs not out against Northamptonshire in the warm up matches.
Although initially named in the squad as a part-time wicket-keeper, his performances in the warm up matches led to his selection for the first Test at Lord's as a specialist batsman as well. The 17-year-old Rahim scored 19 runs in the first innings and was one of just three batsman to reach double figures as Bangladesh were dismissed for 108. After twisting his ankle, he did not play any further in the tour.
2006–2007 Rahim was included in Bangladesh's squad to tour Zimbabwe for five ODIs in 2006. He was one of three uncapped ODI players included in the squad alongside all-rounders Farhad Reza and Shakib Al Hasan. He scored his maiden half-century at Harare against Zimbabwe.
2007–2008 His good performances led him to be picked as the first-choice wicket-keeper ahead of Khaled Mashud for the World Cup in the West Indies.
Rahim was recalled for the second Test against Sri Lanka in July 2007, replacing Mashud. Although Bangladesh lost by an innings and 90 runs, Rahim combined with Mohammad Ashraful – the new captain – to score a record 191 runs for Bangladesh's sixth-wicket partnership. In December 2007, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) granted Rahim a one-year grade B (third tier) contract, one of 22 central contracts with the Board at the time.
2008–2010 Following the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, Rahim endured a series of poor scores, including five innings in which he amassed four runs altogether. As a result, when South Africa toured in March for three ODIs and Bangladesh went to Pakistan for five ODIs the next month, Rahim was dropped in favour of Dhiman Ghosh.
Rahim was recalled to the squad for a tri-series with Pakistan and India and the 2008 Asia Cup. When 17 contracts were announced in April 2009, Rahim's was renewed, marking Rahim as Bangladesh's first choice 'keeper.
Captaincy Rahim was appointed vice-captain for Bangladesh's tour of Zimbabwe in August 2009. The position was vacated as the previous holder, Shakib Al Hasan, was filling-in as captain for the injured Mashrafe Mortaza. Bangladesh won the five match ODI series 4–1. In the final ODI, Rahim scored 98 runs, beating his previous highest score in list A matches of 58, to help his team to victory. With 169 runs in the series at an average of 56.33, Rahim finished the tour as Bangladesh's fourth-highest run scorer.
Rahim retained the vice-captaincy for the home Test series against India in January and February 2010. On 21 January, in the fifth day of the first Test, he scored his maiden Test century and the fastest by a Bangladeshi in Test cricket, off only 112 balls as Bangladesh delayed an Indian victory, being the last man out as India won by 113 runs. England toured Bangladesh in February and March for two Tests and three ODIs, where Bangladesh lost all two formats. In the series, Rahim was his team's second-highest run-scorer. He scored two half-centuries in the first Test, becoming the 6th Bangladeshi batsman to perform the feat.
Having impressed at home, Rahim's performance in the return tour in England in May was expected to be crucial for the rankings. In the tour, Rahim could only manage 40 runs from two Tests as Bangladesh's batsmen struggled in English conditions and slumped to a 2–0 defeat. In the first ODI of the tour Rahim was struck in the face while keeping wickets to spinner Faisal Hossain. An x-ray revealed no fractures, however as a precaution he was rested for a week, missing the rest of the series.
In November 2010, BCB announced 16 central contracts. Rahim was one of six players in the top level. In December 2010, Tamim Iqbal replaced Rahim as Bangladesh's vice-captain.
2011-2012 Rahim was included in Bangladesh's 15-man squad for the 2011 World Cup. Bangladesh were knocked out in the group stage and Rahim had a poor tournament personally. There were suggestions that he could be dropped, especially as fellow wicket-keeper Dhiman Ghosh was scoring heavily in Bangladesh's domestic competition. In August 2011, hit 101 runs from 100 balls having his second century against Zimbabwe which was not enough to stop Bangladesh losing the third one-day series by five runs.
National captain (2011–2018) Mushfiqur Rahim's record as captainFormat ↓ Matches Won Lost Drawn/NRTest347189ODI3711242T20I238141 Last updated on: 24 March 2020 On 20 September 2011, Rahim was named Bangladesh captain, taking over from Shakib Al Hasan after a disappointing tour of Zimbabwe. The announcement was made midway through the BCB Cup, a tournament involving the senior Bangladesh team, Bangladesh A, and a team made up of academy players. Rahim had already been captaining Bangladesh in the tournament on a temporary basis. The competition was won by Bangladesh A.
In 2011, West Indies toured Bangladesh in October for a T20I, three ODIs, and two Tests. In his first international match as captain, Rahim produced a Man-of-the-Match performance, scoring 41 runs not out from 26 balls to help his team to victory. Despite T20I win, Bangladesh lost the ODI series 2–1. Rahim was Bangladesh's leading run-scorer with 100 runs, including a fifty. The following month, Pakistan toured for three ODIs and two Tests. Bangladesh lost the ODI series 3–0, and Rahim managed just 12 runs from three innings.
2012-2015 In the 2012 Asia Cup, under Rahim's captaincy, Bangladesh won two out of the three games they have played and reached the final for the first time where they lost to Pakistan. In April his grade A+ central contract was renewed. On 11 March 2013, during the first test of the tour of Sri Lanka in Galle, Rahim became the first Bangladeshi to score a double hundred, beating the previous highest of 190 set by Mohammed Ashraful earlier in the day.
Rahim announced his resignation as captain on 8 May 2013, but a few days later Rahim announced he had made a "mistake", and on 3 July 2013 the BCB announced they would be retaining him as captain until the end of the year.