Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam underlined that bundling out South Africa for as cheaply as possible would be crucial to balance the scales in the Tigers' favour in the first of the two-Test series between the sides at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday. 

Taijul reached the milestone in his 48th Test, whereas it took Shakib 54 Tests, making him the quickest among Bangladeshi players to reach 200 Test wickets.

Pakistan spin wizard Mushtaq Ahmed has been in charge of the Bangladesh spinners for the past two international assignments -- the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies followed by the two-match Test tour of Pakistan. His troops have delivered remarkable performances in both tours but the 54-year-old is yet to be offered a long-term contract. In an interview with The Daily Star’s Samsul Arefin Khan yesterday, Mushtaq shared his take on Bangladesh’s historic series win in Pakistan and his future with the Tigers.

Bangladesh spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed on Thursday said that the players have recovered from the effects of the chaotic situation in the country and are focusing on cricket.

“This many people usually don’t turn up to see a fitness test at six in the morning. I’m sure they are here because it’s happening at the Bangabandhu [National] Stadium,” said Shahriar Nafees, the current cricket operations manager, after the national team’s fitness test at the famed venue yesterday.

In the last ball of the morning session on Day 2 of the Sylhet Test yesterday, Taijul Islam ran a couple of runs off pacer Vishwa Fernando to reach 41, crossing into the 40s for the first time in his Test career.

In total, the three bowlers made 84 runs while the other specialist bowler in the team, Nahid Rana, remained unbeaten on 0.

Cummins was rewarded for his supreme bowling performance in his side’s victorious Test series against Pakistan

Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam has been rewarded for his pivotal role in the Tigers’ maiden Test victory against New Zealand at home in December 2023 with a nomination for the ICC’s Player of the Month award for the month of December.

Taijul Islam, who spun Bangladesh to their maiden home Test win over New Zealand in Sylhet, spoke with The Daily Star's Mazhar Uddin, where he opened up about his views on getting overshadowed by his more prominent teammates and gave his two cents about the use of home advantage in home Tests. The excerpts are given below:

Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam seemed to have had it with questions regarding fellow left-arm orthodox Shakib Al Hasan. 

New Zealand faced the music on a rank turner in Mirpur as they struggled on 55 for five at stumps, in reply to Bangladesh’s first innings total of 172 on Day 1 of the second Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. 

Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam jumped four places to a career-best 14th in the ICC Test Bowlers’ Rankings after his 10-wicket haul and Player of the Match heroics against New Zealand in the first of the two-match series.

Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam jumps four places to a career-best 14th after his 10-wicket haul and player of the match heroics against the Kiwis in Sylhet in the first Test of the two-match series. Taijul's total of 708 rating points is the highest-ever by a Bangladesh bowler, surpassing Shakib Al Hasan’s 705 achieved in August 2017.

Despite being one of the most consistent performers in the Bangladesh Test side, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam often remains overshadowed by Shakib Al Hasan, and even at times, by Mehedi Hasan Miraz.

“The feeling of winning against such a big team can’t be expressed in words,” Taijul told the media after the match

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said his team are enjoying the victory, but knows that there would be criticism of his side if they do poorly in the next match.

When Kane Williamson, centurion in the first innings, came to bat in the second innings yesterday, the stump mic picked up Bangladesh fielders riling Taijul Islam up with ‘this is your wicket.’

Bangladesh spin bowling coach Rangana Herath acknowledged left-arm spinner Taijul Islam’s role as the leader of the team’s spin attack.

Taijul Islam broke through the castle of Kane Williamson close to the end of the second day as New Zealand were 266 for eight before bad light put an end to the day's play in Sylhet.