Portsmouth are believed to have lined up a former Bangladesh Test captain as their overseas player for next season's Southern Premier League Division 1 campaign.
Mohammad Ashraful captained his country in 13 Tests, and 38 ODIs between 2007 and 2009.
In total, he made 261 international appearances in 12 years, racking up 6,655 runs with nine centuries and 30 fifties, amongst 17,044 runs (33 x 100s, 78 x 50s) in all domestic cricket.
Ashraful, pictured, who will replace Australian Fraser Hay as Portsmouth's overseas player in 2024, is a household name in Bangladeshi cricketing circles.
He struck stardom from an early age becoming the youngest Test centurion in 2001 (17years, 61 days) by striking 114 against Sri Lankan on debut.
His international career was an absolute highlight reel. A flashy stroke-maker, Ashraful struck the fastest fifty in Test, ODI, and T20I matches for Bangladesh.
A hundred against Sri Lanka in his debut Test in Colombo 22 years ago and an even more fluent 158 not out in the first innings versus India in Chittagong three years later were followed by a splendid 100 against the likes of Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie, which led Bangladesh to their maiden ODI win over Australia in Cardiff in June 2005.
With the ball, he was an often under-used spinner, capable of bowling both off and leg spin, Ashraful bagged 47 international and 313 domestic wickets with eight five-wicket hauls.
Those were still Bangladesh’s early days on the international circuit, but Ashraful seemed well on course to stardom till losing his way a few years later.
Spot fixing
International cricket has long deserted him due to spot-fixing allegations during the 2013 Bangladesh Premier League. He was banned by the BCB for eight years, which was subsequently reduced to 5 years, with 2 years suspended.
Not wishing to recall much of the past, he said: “I still play the game. Alongside the Dhaka league, I’ll be going to the United Kingdom to play for Portsmouth next April.
“Coaching is another area I wish to pursue and for that, I’ve already done the ICC (International Cricket Council) level III (coaching) course in Abu Dhabi in May.”
But the former batsman, who many considered more talented than even current captain Shakib-Al Hasan, has found another way to remain involved with cricket at the highest level.
The 39-year-old has been an expert and analyst for Bangladeshi television channel TSports, following Shakib and Co. to all venues of the ICC World Cup in India.
Following his suspension, Ashraful returned to playing domestic cricket and In recent years has sought to salvage his reputation and his return to not only domestic, but UK cricket.
In 2019 he played for Blackheath, whom he helped narrowly avoid relegation from the ECB Kent Premier League with 397 runs in 13 knocks.
He was a popular member at the Rectory Field, where he coached juniors from nearby Tower Hamlets.
In the sun baked 2022 season, he made over 825 runs for Lullington Park in the third tier of Derbyshire County League cricket.
Ashraful is the owner of a Chinese cuisine restaurant, Sichuan Garden, in Dhaka since 2011.
Mohammad Ashraful captained his country in 13 Tests, and 38 ODIs between 2007 and 2009.
In total, he made 261 international appearances in 12 years, racking up 6,655 runs with nine centuries and 30 fifties, amongst 17,044 runs (33 x 100s, 78 x 50s) in all domestic cricket.
Ashraful, pictured, who will replace Australian Fraser Hay as Portsmouth's overseas player in 2024, is a household name in Bangladeshi cricketing circles.
He struck stardom from an early age becoming the youngest Test centurion in 2001 (17years, 61 days) by striking 114 against Sri Lankan on debut.
His international career was an absolute highlight reel. A flashy stroke-maker, Ashraful struck the fastest fifty in Test, ODI, and T20I matches for Bangladesh.
A hundred against Sri Lanka in his debut Test in Colombo 22 years ago and an even more fluent 158 not out in the first innings versus India in Chittagong three years later were followed by a splendid 100 against the likes of Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie, which led Bangladesh to their maiden ODI win over Australia in Cardiff in June 2005.
With the ball, he was an often under-used spinner, capable of bowling both off and leg spin, Ashraful bagged 47 international and 313 domestic wickets with eight five-wicket hauls.
Those were still Bangladesh’s early days on the international circuit, but Ashraful seemed well on course to stardom till losing his way a few years later.
Spot fixing
International cricket has long deserted him due to spot-fixing allegations during the 2013 Bangladesh Premier League. He was banned by the BCB for eight years, which was subsequently reduced to 5 years, with 2 years suspended.
Not wishing to recall much of the past, he said: “I still play the game. Alongside the Dhaka league, I’ll be going to the United Kingdom to play for Portsmouth next April.
“Coaching is another area I wish to pursue and for that, I’ve already done the ICC (International Cricket Council) level III (coaching) course in Abu Dhabi in May.”
But the former batsman, who many considered more talented than even current captain Shakib-Al Hasan, has found another way to remain involved with cricket at the highest level.
The 39-year-old has been an expert and analyst for Bangladeshi television channel TSports, following Shakib and Co. to all venues of the ICC World Cup in India.
Following his suspension, Ashraful returned to playing domestic cricket and In recent years has sought to salvage his reputation and his return to not only domestic, but UK cricket.
In 2019 he played for Blackheath, whom he helped narrowly avoid relegation from the ECB Kent Premier League with 397 runs in 13 knocks.
He was a popular member at the Rectory Field, where he coached juniors from nearby Tower Hamlets.
In the sun baked 2022 season, he made over 825 runs for Lullington Park in the third tier of Derbyshire County League cricket.
Ashraful is the owner of a Chinese cuisine restaurant, Sichuan Garden, in Dhaka since 2011.
