The Bangladesh Cricket Board has removed batting coach Mohammad Ashraful from the national set-up ahead of the two-match Test series against West Indies, which begins on October 28 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Mohammad Salahuddin will cover on an interim basis. The numbers from Ashraful's tenure show strong Test results but uneven recent batting returns.
What Happened and Who Replaces Ashraful
Ashraful was informed of the decision by BCB cricket operations. He then left the national players' WhatsApp group on Saturday (October 24), posting 'Thank You'.
He later confirmed the move himself. “Yes, I am not working with the national team,” he said, adding that he is waiting for his next assignment. He had taken part in a training session with the squad at the venue on the same day.
Interim Arrangement
BCB High Performance Unit head coach Mohammad Salahuddin will take over for the home series against West Indies. A BCB official said the board is in discussions with some foreign batting coaches for a longer-term appointment.
Test Record During Ashraful's Tenure
Ashraful's tenure began in November 2025. Bangladesh won five of eight Tests in that period, drew one and lost two.
| Metric | Value |
|---|
| Tests played | 8 |
| Wins | 5 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Losses | 2 |
| Win percentage | 62.5% |
A 62.5% win rate is a strong return for a side that has historically struggled to convert Test series into wins. The context of those wins matters, though.
Series-by-Series Test Results
| Opponent | Result | Note |
|---|
| Ireland | Won 2-0 | Series sweep |
| Pakistan (May) | Won 2-0 | Mushfiqur Rahim scored 253 runs and was player of the series |
| Australia (August) | Drawn 1-1 | Won in Darwin, then bowled out for 64 and beaten inside two days in Mackay |
Mushfiqur's national-record 14th Test hundred came in the Pakistan series. The Mackay collapse for 64 was the sharpest low point of the period.
White-Ball Results and Batting Output
Bangladesh also had notable results in the limited-overs formats during the period. They beat Pakistan 2-1 in an ODI series in March. In June they won their first men's ODI series against Australia, again by 2-1.
| Format | Opponent | Result |
|---|
| ODI | Pakistan (March) | Won 2-1 |
| ODI | Australia (June) | Won 2-1 |
| T20I | Australia (June) | Lost 0-3 |
Century Count
Bangladesh scored 11 centuries in 34 internationals between November 2025 and October 2026. That works out to roughly one hundred every 3.1 matches, which is a significant accomplishment for the batting unit.
| Metric | Value |
|---|
| International matches | 34 |
| Centuries | 11 |
| Matches per century | about 3.1 |
Why the Timing Matters
The decision follows a run of poor batting displays at the Asian Games in Japan and in the tri-nation series in Abu Dhabi. Recent form had been fairly uneven, which may have prompted the board's decision.
The aggregate numbers favour Ashraful, but the most recent returns do not. That gap between long-term results and short-term form appears to be the central tension in the move.
What to Watch in the West Indies Series
The two-Test series gives Salahuddin a short window to stabilise the batting group on home pitches. Key indicators will be first-innings totals, the number of 50-plus scores and how often the top order survives the new ball.
Any permanent appointment will likely be judged against the 5-1-2 Test record and 11 centuries from the past year. That is the benchmark the next batting coach inherits.