Taijul overtakes Shakib as Bangladesh’s highest Test wicket-taker

Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam overtook Shakib Al Hasan to become the country's all-time highest wicket-taker in Test cricket on Day 4 of the second Test against Ireland at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday.

Taijul, who took four wickets on Day 3 to draw level with Shakib at 246 scalps, claimed the record in the post-lunch session on Sunday when he trapped Andy Balbirnie lbw. The milestone came swiftly for the 32-year-old, who reached the mark in his 56th Test, compared to Shakib's 71.

It had been coming for Taijul, who has taken the most wickets among spinners in Tests over the past 12 months. In eight Tests, the left-arm spinner bagged 37 wickets. Australia's Nathan Lyon, second on that list, has 32 wickets despite playing three more Tests than Taijul.

Yesterday, Taijul said he did not have a specific career target in mind regarding how many wickets he wants to finish with.

"No, if the Almighty gives me 700, I am willing to take 700," he had said.

Asked when he first felt he could surpass Shakib's haul, Taijul mentioned that he had not initially realised he might one day become Bangladesh's leading Test wicket-taker.

"It is actually difficult to say whether I will become the highest wicket-taker or not. But when my consistency came, when experience came, and when I had confidence within myself that Bangladesh cricket would give me opportunities… at that time, it felt that one day I might be able to become the owner of many wickets," he said.