Former captain Mohammad Ashraful has returned to the Bangladesh national team as the new batting coach, taking charge for the upcoming home series against Ireland. His inclusion has sparked excitement within the squad, but Test captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto believes it will be challenging for Ashraful to make a significant impact in such a short period.
“Everyone is obviously excited,” said Shanto. “He has played international cricket for many years and has a wealth of experience. It’s great for us to have him as a coach. We’ve never had the chance to share a dressing room before, but now we do.”
However, Shanto pointed out that Ashraful’s role is limited to just this series, which he sees as a constraint. “As far as I know, he will only be with us for this series,” he explained. “It’s hard to make major technical changes in such a short time. With limited time, it’s difficult to work in depth. Still, I hope his experience will benefit us.”
The Bangladesh team is currently going through a period of instability, with new coaching appointments and the departure of assistant coach Salahuddin. Despite these off-field changes, Shanto prefers to focus on what is within his control.
“External matters are beyond our control,” he said. “I try to focus on what is within my hands. There will always be discussions off the field, but I prefer to concentrate on the work inside the ground.”
The Bangladesh-Ireland series will mark the start of Ashraful’s new coaching role. It remains to be seen how much influence he can have during this short stint. However, senior players like Shanto are optimistic that Ashraful’s experience will bring some positive changes.