{"id":47054,"date":"2018-09-05T19:43:46","date_gmt":"2018-09-05T19:43:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/?p=47054"},"modified":"2018-09-05T19:43:46","modified_gmt":"2018-09-05T19:43:46","slug":"ashraful-eyes-bangladesh-comeback-through-afghanistan-premier-league","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/?p=47054","title":{"rendered":"Ashraful eyes Bangladesh comeback through Afghanistan Premier League"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Bangladesh cricketer Mohammad Ashraful runs during a practice session at The Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on March 30, 2013. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will play one Twenty20 match in Pallekele on March 31. AFP PHOTO\/ Ishara S. KODIKARA (Photo credit should read Ishara S. KODIKARA\/AFP\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sports desk: Former Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful said on Tuesday (September 4) that he is eyeing a comeback through the upcoming Afghanistan Premier League slated to begin from October 5 in UAE.<\/p>\n

Ashraful, who was touted as the biggest thing in Bangladesh cricket, was slapped with a five-year ban from all forms of cricket following his involvement in match-fixing and spot-fixing in the 2013 edition of the Bangladesh Premier League. Having served his time off the field, Ashraful is now raring to make a comeback and represent his country again.<\/p>\n

”I am looking forward to take part in the APL if any team chooses to pick me from the draft,” Ashraful told Cricbuzz on Tuesday as he was attending a program organized by local fans.<\/p>\n

”I am expected to be placed in the draft,” he said.<\/p>\n

”If I can manage to get a team, it will be exciting for me as the platform will help me to answer a lot of questions that is raised regarding my fitness and form in the recent times,” he added.<\/p>\n

The inaugural edition of the league, which will consist of five franchises, is scheduled to be held from October 5 to October 23, will include both Afghan and foreign players. The 34-year-old was initially slapped with an eight-year ban by a special anti-corruption tribunal set up by the board in July 2014 for his involvement in match and spot-fixing in BPL 2013.<\/p>\n

A one-member appeal panel had then reduced his ban to five years, with the last two years to be reprieved upon producing a certificate of good conduct from the ICC through participation in the ‘anti-corruption education and training programme'.<\/p>\n

Ashraful is aware of the competition that exists and knows what it takes to wear the red-and-green jersey again. His determination has only increased after listening to the chief selector's words regarding his comeback.<\/p>\n

”At the moment there is no place for him in the national team,” chief selector Minhajul Abedin told reporters at Mirpur on August 12, a day after Ashraful had revealed his urge to make a comeback into the national side.<\/p>\n

Ashraful, who was in England during the time when his ban was upheld, came to attended a public function for the first time after the ban ended. He mentioned that he is not in a hurry and firmly believes he can be a trendsetter.<\/p>\n

“It is true that in our country after the retirement of Suman [Habibul Bashar] and Rafique [Mohammad Rafique], there is hardly any instance of players playing for 37 to 38 years,” said Ashraful.<\/p>\n

”But I want to be a trendsetter. Mashrafee is still playing, that is very inspiring while if the batsmen cannot make a comeback it is because they are unable to perform extraordinarily,” he said.<\/p>\n

”I have spoken with BCB president Nazmul Hasan and the BCB CEO and they assured me if I can perform, the door of the national team is open for me,” he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sports desk: Former Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful said on Tuesday (September 4) that he is eyeing a comeback through the upcoming Afghanistan Premier League slated to begin from October 5 in UAE. Ashraful, who was touted as the biggest thing in Bangladesh cricket, was slapped with a five-year ban from all forms of cricket following […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":47055,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n