Mohammad Ashraful Appointed Bangladesh Batting Coach for Ireland Series

Ex Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful has been appointed as the batting coach for the team's upcoming series against Ireland, marking a new chapter in his storied cricketing journey. The 40-year-old takes over from Mohammad Salahuddin, who resigned earlier this week and will officially leave after the Ireland tour.

Ashraful remains one of the most recognizable figures in Bangladesh cricket, remembered for his heroics as a teenager. At just 20, he led Bangladesh to one of their most famous victories - the historic upset against Australia in Cardiff in 2005, where his century stunned the cricketing world. Over his career, he played 177 ODIs, scoring 3468 runs, along with 61 Tests and 23 T20Is.

Meanwhile, Salahuddin's departure closes a long association

with Bangladesh cricket. Appointed in November 2024 to assist head coach Phil Simmons, he handled the batting department while drawing on nearly three decades of coaching experience across domestic and international setups.

However, a difficult 2025 season, marked by a string of losses across formats - including T20I defeats to UAE, Pakistan, and West Indies and ODI setbacks to Afghanistan and Sri Lanka - intensified scrutiny on the coaching staff.

During a press interaction in July, Salahuddin had responded to criticism of his methods, saying, "After coaching for 27-28 years, I am hearing that there are lots of complaints in the team against me. I really would like to know about those complaints. Best if it was given to me in writing. "

Ashraful's own career had its turbulent moments. In 2013, he was handed a ban for involvement in match-fixing during the Bangladesh Premier League, but after serving his suspension, he returned to domestic cricket and gradually transitioned into coaching.

Just last month, Ashraful expressed frustration over the top order's inconsistency, remarking that Bangladesh's batters "are not contributing enough. " Now, he has the opportunity to bring change - this time, from the dugout.