Dhaka, Oct 26: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has removed former national captain Mohammad Ashraful as the men’s team’s batting coach, appointing High Performance coach Mohammad Salahuddin to oversee the department on an interim basis ahead of the two-Test series against the West Indies.
The decision comes just days before the opening Test, scheduled to begin in Mirpur on October 28. The board confirmed that Ashraful would be reassigned to another position within the BCB, although it did not disclose details of his new role.
Salahuddin will remain in charge of the batting unit until the appointment of a permanent replacement. He previously served as Bangladesh’s assistant coach and had overseen the team’s batting department before Ashraful took over the position in November 2025.
Ashraful’s removal marks a change in Bangladesh’s coaching set-up at a crucial stage of their international calendar. The team will be looking to put behind them their recent disappointment in the United Arab Emirates, where they lost to Afghanistan in the final of the ODI tri-series, as they turn their attention to the longer format.Ashraful, one of the prominent figures in Bangladesh cricket, enjoyed a distinguished playing career despite its controversies. He rose to international prominence in 2005 when, aged 20, he scored a memorable century against Australia to help Bangladesh secure a famous upset victory.
He went on to represent Bangladesh in 61 Test matches, 177 one-day internationals and 23 T20 internationals. His 3,468 ODI runs remain among the highest tallies recorded by a Bangladesh batter, while he also became the youngest player to score a Test century.However, his career was overshadowed by a match-fixing scandal involving the Bangladesh Premier League in 2013. Ashraful was subsequently handed a lengthy ban from cricket-related activities under the BCB before returning to the game and eventually moving into coaching.
He was appointed Bangladesh’s batting coach in November 2025, and his contract had been extended until February 2027.
Salahuddin now faces the immediate task of preparing Bangladesh’s batters for the upcoming Test series against the West Indies. With the opening match approaching, the interim appointment leaves little time for major adjustments, placing the focus on the team’s ability to deliver a stronger performance with the bat.
The BCB has yet to announce when a permanent batting coach will be appointed. For now, Salahuddin will oversee the department as Bangladesh attempt to regroup after their recent ODI setback and begin the Test series on a positive note. (Agencies)