International comeback beckons for disgraced Mohammad Ashraful

32-year old Bangladeshi cricketer Mohammad Ashraful and his glittering international career came to somewhat of a standstill when he was involved in a match-fixing scandal in the Bangladesh Premier league in 2014. However, after having made a mark for himself with the ball in the National Cricket league for the Dhaka Metropolis, Ashraful may well be on the path back to the Bangladesh team.

Playing for the Metropolis in the National Cricket League on the first day of the four-day Test match, Ashraful had a productive day with the ball as he picked three wickets against Barisal Division and concluded with figures of 3/49 on the day. This is Ashraful’s second outing since his ban was partially lifted by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), something that now allows him to play domestic cricket.

This was the first time Ashraful got to bowl as he did not get to either bat or bowl in the previous encounter which was invariably rained out. Ashraful could neither bat nor bowl in his first match, which saw only 15 overs of action in four days due to rain.

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In early 2014, Mohammad Ashraful confessed on National Television that he had helped in the fixing of matches in the scandal and controversy-hit Bangladesh premier League. The tournament was suspended soon after before resuming once again in 2015. There are six new franchises in the league at the moment.

Ashraful spoke of the relief he felt whilst bowling and resuming his cricketing career. “It’s a relief that I could get some play finally,” Ashraful told AFP by phone from Khulna. “The wicket looks really very nice here. So I am now waiting for some batting.”

The BCB had earlier appealed Ashraful’s decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland against his reduced ban in October 2014, but later withdrew it. However, at the age of 32, Ashraful now looks to add to the 61 Tests, 177 ODIs, and 23 T20Is he has featured in thus far.

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