Today, for the first time since joining the Bangladesh national team’s coaching staff, Mohammad Ashraful visited the BCB office in Mirpur. Naturally, this occasion sparked considerable interest from the media, with journalists eager to hear from him.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has appointed Ashraful as the batting coach for the upcoming series against Ireland. He will travel with the team to Sylhet tomorrow for the first Test. Before that, he shared his thoughts with the press on his new role.
Ashraful acknowledged that proving oneself as a coach in a single series is a challenging task. However, his outlook was different: “I’ve been given the opportunity to work for the country. Just getting the chance to work for one match is a big thing, and here I’ve been given an entire series. I will try to give my best in whatever I do. I’m not worried about whether it’s a long-term job or not.”
Having played for nearly two decades at both the national and domestic levels, Ashraful started his coaching career towards the end of his playing days. He was recently the head coach of the Barisal Division in the National Cricket League (NCL), and has also worked with the Rangpur Riders and Dhanmondi Club in the past.
What does he hope to teach the national team’s batsmen? Ashraful explained, “I’ve had many great innings, and I’ve also had some bad ones. I want to share these experiences. That’s why I came into coaching.”
His focus will be on helping the batsmen maintain consistency in their performances. “Everyone can perform for a couple of matches, but I struggled with that. I will try to share how they can maintain their form over longer periods,” he said.
Working with the national team often invites criticism, particularly on social media, with harsh comments frequently directed at coaches and players. Mohammad Salahuddin, who recently resigned as an assistant coach, openly admitted that he was not enjoying the pressure.
However, Ashraful is unfazed by these challenges. “When you work in a results-driven environment, you must be able to handle pressure. Having played international cricket for 13 years, I have dealt with plenty of pressure. I’ve even overcome personal challenges. So, I’m not too worried about any of that. Wherever I go, I do my job with honesty and give 100%.”
Ashraful’s calm and determined approach to the pressures of coaching reflects his deep experience in the game and his readiness for this new challenge.