Shakib said he would score the fastest Test hundred: Papon 

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon revealed on Wednesday that Test skipper Shakib Al Hasan told him that he would go on to score the fastest Test hundred by a Bangladesh batter ahead of the start of the second day of the lone Test against Ireland at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. 

The ace all-rounder did come up with a positive approach despite the Tigers losing Mominul Haque for 17 early in the day which reduced them to three for 40. The 36-year-old along with Mushfiqur Rahim added 159 runs for the fourth wicket and helped Bangladesh to take a lead of 155 runs.

Although Mushfiqur went on to score his hundred, Shakib eventually fell short of his century by 13 runs and was dismissed on 87 off 94 deliveries where he put away 14 fours.

''I rushed to the ground early in the morning to witness two centuries. One happened but the other one missed out. Shakib earlier told me that he would go on to smash the fastest hundred (by a Bangladesh batter). I told him no, first score your fifty and don't hurry. He played well but missed out on the century by 13 runs,'' Papon told the media after the second day's play in Mirpur.

ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal holds the record for the fastest Test century by a Bangladesh batter. He took 94 balls to smash his maiden Test ton at Lord's in England in 2010. The 34-year-old also has two other tons in the top five of quickest centuries as he reached the milestones in 100 balls once against England in Manchester in 2010, and then against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2019. 

Shakib-led Bangladesh are well on their course to winning the Test against Ireland as the visitors lost four wickets late in the final session of the second day while chipping away at Bangladesh's 155-run lead. 

Shakib and Taijul Islam bagged two wickets each as Ireland were reduced to 27 for four as they trailed by 128 runs.

According to the BCB boss, the Tigers will become a good Test unit within the next year and he praised the positive mentality of the cricketers.

''Obviously, the mentality of the players were positive but we are yet to become a formidable side in the Test format. It felt good after watching today's game but yesterday I was angry. This is the reality as we still have a long way to go. But I assume we will be able to emerge as a good test team within the next one year," he said.

"We don't get enough opportunities to play more matches against the bigger teams. We are scheduled to play 14 Tests in a year and it's not an easy task. I believe we will be able to emerge as a good Test unit during this period,'' he added.