Bangladesh Remove Mohammad Ashraful as Batting Coach Ahead of West Indies Tests
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has removed Mohammad Ashraful from the national team’s coaching set-up just days before the first Test against the West Indies. The two-match series is scheduled to begin at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on October 28, with the late coaching change adding a fresh storyline to an important home assignment.
According to Cricbuzz, the BCB’s cricket operations department informed Ashraful of the decision. The former Bangladesh batter then left the national players’ WhatsApp group on Saturday, October 24, posting a brief “Thank You” message. Ashraful later confirmed that he was no longer working with the team, despite having attended a training session with the players at the Dhaka venue earlier that day.
“Yes, I am not working with the national team,” Ashraful told Cricbuzz, adding that he was waiting to learn what his next assignment would be. The BCB has not publicly explained the decision in detail, leaving the timing and the team’s recent batting performances as the main clues behind the move.
Mohammad Salahuddin to take charge on an interim basis
Mohammad Salahuddin, head coach of the BCB High Performance Unit, is expected to replace Ashraful temporarily for the West Indies series. His appointment would give Bangladesh a familiar coaching presence during a short preparation window, while the board considers its longer-term plans.
A BCB official said the board was also discussing the possibility of bringing in overseas expertise. “We are in discussion with some foreign batting coaches,” the official said. No appointment has been announced, and it remains unclear whether a permanent specialist will join the set-up before the next stage of Bangladesh’s international schedule.
The immediate challenge for the interim coach is clear: help the batters find consistency before a two-Test contest in which long spells at the crease, sound shot selection and partnerships could prove decisive. A coaching change so close to the opening match leaves limited time for major technical adjustments, so the focus is likely to be on confidence, preparation and clear role definition.
Mixed results during Ashraful’s tenure
Ashraful’s time as batting coach began in November 2025 and included a number of significant results. Bangladesh won five of the eight Tests played during his tenure, drew one and lost two. The team completed a 2-0 Test series sweep against Ireland and later defeated Pakistan by the same margin in May.
The Pakistan series produced a notable individual achievement for Mushfiqur Rahim. He scored 253 runs and was named player of the series, while also recording his 14th Test century—a national record. Such performances offered evidence that Bangladesh’s batting group could deliver substantial contributions in demanding conditions.
Bangladesh also made progress in limited-overs cricket. In March, they beat Pakistan 2-1 in an ODI series, then secured their first men’s ODI series victory over Australia, winning 2-1 in June. Those results were among the brighter moments of Ashraful’s spell and strengthened the team’s standing in a format where consistency against leading opponents is especially valuable.
However, the overall record was not uniformly positive. Bangladesh drew a Test series against Australia 1-1 in August, winning in Darwin before suffering a heavy defeat in Mackay. The team was dismissed for 64 in the latter match and lost inside two days. Australia had also swept the T20I series 3-0 in June, underlining the gap Bangladesh still needed to close in shorter formats.
Recent batting struggles put the spotlight on the coaching role
The decision to make a change follows a run of disappointing batting displays in the Asian Games in Japan and the tri-nation series in Abu Dhabi. Those performances appear to have increased scrutiny of the national set-up, although the BCB has not said directly that they were the reason for Ashraful’s departure.
There is also a broader measure to consider. Between November 2025 and October 2026, Bangladesh scored 11 centuries in 34 international matches. That total points to an ability to produce major individual innings, but it does not necessarily tell the full story of the team’s consistency. A century can shape a match, yet repeated collapses, limited support for set batters and difficulty adapting to different conditions can still undermine results.
For Bangladesh, the challenge is to turn isolated achievements into dependable team performances. Batting coaches work across technical detail, match preparation and player confidence, but results also depend on the wider coaching structure and the batters’ ability to apply plans under pressure. The West Indies Tests will therefore offer an early indication of how the squad responds to a sudden change in leadership.
What to watch in the West Indies series
The opening Test at Sher-e-Bangla will draw attention not only to the scorecard but also to Bangladesh’s approach. Observers will be watching how the top order handles the new ball, whether the middle order can build partnerships and how the team responds if early wickets fall. These details may provide more useful insight than a single high score or a brief collapse.
Any cricket prediction for the series should account for the uncertainty created by the coaching transition. Bangladesh have home advantage and a record of strong results in recent Test series, but their uneven batting form makes it difficult to assume that past success will automatically carry over. The West Indies, meanwhile, will look to exploit any lack of rhythm and put pressure on the hosts early in each innings.
With Salahuddin expected to step in temporarily and the BCB considering foreign candidates, the board’s next decision could shape the team’s preparation well beyond this series. For now, Bangladesh’s priority is to settle quickly, show greater resilience at the crease and begin the West Indies contest with a clear plan. The results may help determine whether the change becomes a short-term adjustment or the start of a wider rethink of the national batting programme.
