In the Era of Warne and Murali, Bangladesh Had Rafique

When cricket history celebrates the magicians of spin, names like Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan always come up. Yet, standing in their shadows—fighting in a completely different context—was the man who laid the foundation of Bangladesh’s cricketing dreams: Mohammad Rafique.

At first glance, Rafique’s wicket tally may look modest compared to those global giants. He has no 10-wicket hauls in a Test innings, nor countless tales of single-handedly winning matches for his country. But for Bangladesh, he was nothing less than a superstar—a pioneer who brought victories and planted the seeds of hope in a fledgling cricketing nation.

It was Rafique’s all-round brilliance that opened the World Cup doors for Bangladesh. During the 1997 ICC Trophy, his fearless batting at the top and incisive left-arm spin carried Bangladesh to glory. He claimed 19 wickets, the joint-highest in the tournament, and made valuable contributions with the bat—including in the rain-hit final, where his 26 runs as an opener and three wickets with the ball laid the foundation for Bangladesh’s entry into the World Cup.

From there began Rafique’s fairy tale. For years he carried the burden of Bangladesh’s spin attack almost single-handedly. Whether in Tests or ODIs, he stamped his authority with both bat and ball. He was aggressive with the bat, often turning hopeless situations into small but memorable fightbacks, and deadly accurate with the ball, troubling the world’s best batsmen.

Rafique’s career was filled with defining moments:

In 1998, during Bangladesh’s maiden ODI win against Kenya, he opened the innings with 77 runs and picked up three wickets, forging a 137-run stand with Athar Ali Khan.

In 2004, he stunned the West Indies with a Test century (111 runs) batting at No. 9, a rare feat for a spinner.

In 2005, he was instrumental in Bangladesh’s first-ever Test and ODI series wins against Zimbabwe, smashing 72 off 66 balls in the series decider and claiming two wickets to be named Player of the Series.

By the time he retired, Rafique had become the first Bangladeshi bowler to reach 100 Test wickets. His career-best 6/77 came against South Africa in 2003.

Off the field, Rafique was equally remarkable. When then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked him what reward he wanted after the 1997 ICC Trophy win, he requested not a house or a car, but a bridge for the people of Babubazar near his birthplace to ease local commuting. Later, he donated land and even sold his car to fund schools for underprivileged children.

Even in his fifties, Rafique continues to play in Masters cricket, corporate tournaments, and exhibition matches, showing flashes of the same firepower. In the 2023 BPL, Shoaib Malik trained against him in the nets and came out praising his fitness and spin mastery, saying, “Even now, the way he bowls and moves, he’s still incredibly fit.”

Yet, despite his monumental contributions, Mohammad Rafique remains absent from key roles in Bangladesh cricket—neither as a spin coach nor as a consultant. This neglect not only undermines a national hero but also signals a deeper problem in Bangladesh’s cricketing system.

Rafique was not just a cricketer; he was a fighter, a pioneer, and a dreamer who carried an entire generation’s hopes on his shoulders. It’s time Bangladesh cricket honored his legacy and made use of his invaluable experience.