Bangladesh's most-capped cricketer, Mohammad Ashraful, has been omitted from the Test squad for the forthcoming series against England, after failing to convince the selectors that he is in the right frame of mind to resume his international career.
The Test future of the out-of-form Mohammad Ashraful has come to the spotlight ahead of the team selection for the two-match Test series against visiting England. The Rafiqul Alam-led selection panel is likely to announce the squad today, as the first Test will start from March 12 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.
It was a contrasting day at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium for Rokibul Hasan and Mohammad Ashraful as one made most of his opportunity while the other continued his woeful form against England here yesterday.
Mohammad Ashraful will captain Bangladesh A in their three-day tour match against England in Chittagong from March 7-9.
Former Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful has been dropped from the 13-member squad for the ODI series against England starting on Sunday. Meanwhile, Mashrafee Bin Mortaza finally made a comeback in the national team after struggling with injuries for six months.
Bangladesh cricket team was scheduled to return home last night after the series in New Zealand where some individual achievements by the Tigers hogged spotlights even in defeats against the Black Caps. Shakib Al Hasan's men will hardly get any rest as they have to prepare for the home series against England who arrive here tonight to play three one-day internationals and two Tests.
Jamie Siddons, the Bangladesh coach, was critical of his team's performance after the top-order collapsed once again, on the fourth evening in Hamilton on Thursday to leave the hosts in sight of victory.
Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons has said batsman Mohammad Ashraful was fortunate to retain a place in the national team but felt there was no adequate replacement for him yet. Siddons also viewed the first Test as an opportunity lost for Bangladesh and believed the result could have been different had the top order batted better, reports Cricinfo.
The stand-in captain of Bangladesh cricket team Sakib al Hasan and batsman Mohammad Ashraful will have to face action for violating code of conduct by attending the press conference of the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh, a top official of the Bangladesh Cricket Board said on Thursday.
Mohammad Ashraful smashed a century to steal the show of six-sixes-in-an-over by Naeem Islam and steer Mohammedan to a crucial three-wicket victory over Gazi Tanks in the Dhaka Premier League on Friday. In another match, an unbeaten innings of 90 by all-rounder Mohammad Rafique helped Abahani overcome a batting collapse to record, what looked very comfortable in the end, a 92-run win over CSS.
