Ashraful Steps Down as National Team Batting Coach

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has removed Mohammad Ashraful from his role as the national team’s batting coach ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies. Mohammad Salahuddin, the head coach of BCB’s High Performance (HP) unit, is set to take over as the interim batting coach. According to a report by Cricbuzz, the BCB’s Cricket Operations department informed Mr. Ashraful of the decision on Saturday, October 24. Following the announcement, Mr. Ashraful bid farewell to the national team players via their WhatsApp group. Mr. Ashraful himself confirmed that he is no longer working with the national side for the time being.

The former Bangladesh captain assumed the role of national batting coach in November 2025 during the Ireland series. Under his tenure, Bangladesh won five out of eight Test matches, drew one, and lost two. The batters played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s 2-0 Test series victories against both Ireland and Pakistan. However, the Bangladesh batting lineup has suffered from inconsistency in recent times. According to Cricbuzz, the decision to restructure the coaching setup came following disappointing performances by the batters in the Asian Games and the tri-nation series in Abu Dhabi.

Mr. Salahuddin, who is set to replace Mr. Ashraful, previously served as the senior assistant coach of the national team. He is expected to be given interim charge for the West Indies series. The report added that the BCB is also in discussions with several foreign batting coaches for a long-term appointment. The two-Test series against the West Indies begins on October 28 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.