![Mahfijul Islam dismissed for a duck on Test debut [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1794732132450_MahfijulIslamBangladesh.jpg?type=hq)
Mahfijul Islam dismissed for a duck on Test debut [Source: AFP]
Mahfijul Islam became Bangladesh's 112th Test cricketer as the Asians face South Africa in the first Test of the tour at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. Unfortunately, the debut did not go as he would have liked, as he got out on a golden duck on the first ball of the match.
Due to a quick turnaround between Bangladesh's 2nd Test against West Indies and the South Africa tour, injured Shadman Islam could not recover in time and missed the tour, making way for Islam.
Mahfijul Islam becomes only 4th entrant to 'this' unfortunate list
For various reasons, Bangladesh have changed their opening pairs throughout 2026. Mahfijul Islam became the sixth opener to play for them in 2026. Furthermore, as Bangladesh elected to bat first, Mahfijul also took guard for the first ball against the fierce Kagiso Rabada.
The in-form Rabada bowled one full and outside off, and the right-hand batter chased it, and a thick edge carried towards the gully. Marco Jansen took the catch, and the batter became only the fourth debutant to be dismissed on the first ball of a Men's Test.
Batters to be dismissed on first ball of a Men's Test on debut
- Jimmy Cook, SA vs IND, Durban, 1992
- Leon Garrick, WI vs SA, Kingston, 2001
- Abdul Malik, AFG vs ZIM, Abu Dhabi, 2021
- Mahfijul Islam, BAN vs SA, Johannesburg, 2026 (Today)
Mahfijul Islam scripts another unwanted record
The 22-year-old opener was picked in the team on the back of his prolific red-ball domestic form in the National Cricket League form. Ahead of the South Africa tour, he scored 672 runs in 5 matches for Mymensingh Division, including three hundreds and two fifties, with a high score of 217*.
He could not immediately replicate that form at the international level, as he became the first Bangladesh opener to be dismissed for a golden duck on debut. Furthermore, Mahfijul is the second Bangladesh opener after Saif Hassan to register a duck in the 1st Test innings.
