As only the second Rajshahi born, bred and trained cricketer to play international cricket, Mushfiqur Rahman's career stuttered, along with his country's fortunes, when he toured Zimbabwe in 2000-01, in the early days of Bangladesh's Test status. In two matches, he failed to take a wicket or reach double-figures, and was omitted from the selectors' thoughts for the next two years. In 2003, however, he returned with a sturdier batting technique and a strong desire for success, and became - almost overnight - one of the cornerstones of Dav Whatmore's new regime.

He produced two important innings to put the wind up England in the first Test in October 2003, before winning the Man of the Series award (and a motorised scooter ...) in the subsequent one-dayers, where his guileless but accurate seam bowling was one of the few bright spots of a bleak campaign.

He never hit his stride thereafter as he played only another year of international cricket, though he continued mainly as a batsman in domestic first-class and club cricket till 2008.
Andrew Miller and ESPNcricinfo staff