What Mohammad Ashraful told Cricket97 in an exclusive interview

Mohammad Ashraful was appointed as Bangladesh’s batting coach only for the Ireland series. But after Bangladesh’s impressive performance in both the Test and T20 formats, his tenure as coach is likely to be extended. In an exclusive interview with Cricket97, he shared his thoughts and feelings about working as a coach.

Ashraful said that an informal discussion has already taken place with the board:
"There has been a verbal conversation with Fahim sir and Bulbul bhai. During this camp, I will be working here with Salahuddin bhai and head coach Simmons since we will be working with the batsmen. After that, there will probably be a final discussion with them. It feels really good to be doing this work."

Responding to a question about how much he enjoyed being in the coaching role, Mohammad Ashraful said:
"I enjoyed it a lot. Bangladesh has been playing Test cricket for 25 years. I follow every innings, and in my view, this is the first time Bangladesh has played such wonderful cricket in three consecutive innings. Every batsman was in great form. They batted with control. We didn’t do well in the first T20, but then we made a wonderful comeback. Overall, I enjoyed it very much. I enjoyed every day, every moment. I tried to blend in, work with everyone, and share my experiences. Everyone supported me a lot—from the coaching staff to the players. And I saw that the entire nation was praying for me. The team also performed alongside me. I truly enjoyed it."

Regarding Liton and Shanto’s captaincy, Ashraful said:
"After Shanto became captain, if you look at his batting performance—whether in ODIs or Tests—it has been exceptional, with an average of almost 50/60. It’s outstanding. When a captain performs, leading the team becomes easier. And about Liton—when Shakib Al Hasan could not play, he captained three matches against India and did an excellent job. From then on, I would say he has been a highly proactive captain. And in the T20 format, he is Bangladesh’s highest run-getter. Both of them are doing fantastic jobs in their respective formats."

Ashraful wants to give his very best as a coach:
"I will try to provide the best service possible. I want the players to feel comfortable. What I couldn’t do—becoming a regular success—I want our Bangladeshi batsmen to achieve that consistency. I want them to score runs in every match. That is my intention. I will share my experiences with them so they can score—if not in every match, then at least in every second match. That will be the goal."