Big shake-up in Bangladesh cricket: BCB removes Mohammad Ashraful as batting coach days before Test series

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has removed Mohammad Ashraful as the men's team's batting coach, with High Performance coach Mohammad Salahuddin set to take over on an interim basis.Ashraful was appointed to the role in November 2025. In a media release, the BCB said he would be moved to another position within the board, while Salahuddin would remain in charge of the batting unit until a permanent replacement is appointed. The board did not provide details about Ashraful's new role.Salahuddin had previously served as Bangladesh's assistant coach and was in charge of the batting unit before Ashraful replaced him.Ashraful was part of one of the most memorable moments in Bangladesh cricket history. At just 20, he scored a century to help Bangladesh pull off a stunning upset against Australia in 2005.He went on to play 177 ODIs, scoring 3,468 runs, the fifth-highest tally for Bangladesh. He also featured in 61 Tests, becoming the youngest player to score a Test century, and played 23 T20Is. Ashraful remained active in domestic cricket as recently as two years ago.However, his playing career also had its share of setbacks. In 2013, he was handed a lengthy ban from all BCB-related cricket activities for his involvement in match-fixing in the Bangladesh Premier League. He returned to the fold three years later and eventually moved into coaching.Ashraful's contract as batting coach was subsequently extended until February next year.Bangladesh's next assignment is a two-Test series against the West Indies, starting on October 28 in Mirpur. The team recently lost to Afghanistan in the final of the UAE ODI tri-series.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.