Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim has called on Bangladesh to maintain their discipline and focus on session-by-session goals as they prepare for the second Test against Australia in Mackay.

Following Bangladesh's historic victory in the first Test in Darwin, Rahim addressed his teammates in the dressing room, urging them to apply the same blueprint that guided the team to their landmark Test win over New Zealand at Mount Maunganui in 2022.

“The last biggest win that we had in Mount Maunganui, if I am not wrong, we had just one target: to win one session at a time,” Rahim said in a video released by the Bangladesh Cricket Board. “We treated it as a one-day game, and we had to win that day, three sessions out of three, at least two sessions. So, we can break it down like that.”

Mentorship and Dressing Room Evolution

Now in his 21st year in Test cricket, Rahim has evolved from an emotional performer into the squad’s steadying senior statesman. In Darwin, although he scored only 36 runs, his 66-run partnership with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto proved crucial in consolidating the advantage after Tanzid Hasan Tamim’s century.

A senior member of the Test squad highlighted the veteran's invaluable presence: “I don't know what will happen when Mushfiqur bhai will not be around. You need someone like him as he gives us that mental strength.”

Reflecting on the cultural shift within Bangladesh cricket, Rahim emphasized the collective growth of the squad over recent years.

“The biggest change that I have seen from the last four, five years is that individually, you all want to improve yourself which is very, very important,” Rahim said. “As an individual, you improve 2 per cent of your game and when you click together as a whole unit, it will impact on these kinds of results. Because I was there 15, 20 years ago. There were certain individuals who believed only themselves, not a whole group. But now I can feel eight or nine match-winners out of 15 or 16 in this group.”

Rahim added: “Every time we go there, we compete. It doesn't matter the condition, it doesn't matter what pitch. They [the opponents] are also human beings. So, just remember that if you stick to your process, and have faith in the Almighty, the result will take care of itself.”

Bangladesh will look to complete a historic series sweep when the second and final Test gets underway at Mackay on August 22.