Former Bangladesh batsman Ashraful's future in the hands of selectors and franchise

The ban on former captain Mohammad Ashraful was partially lifted on Saturday but only a franchise and its selectors can decide whether he will play in September's Bangladesh Cricket League.

Sports Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 14 August 2016, 05:30 PM
Updated : 14 August 2016, 05:30 PM

The chief of BCB's Cricket Operations Committee Akram Khan said Ashraful must wait two more years to play a franchise-based tournament like the Bangladesh Premier League.

The overseas first-class matches, too, have to wait until Aug 13, 2018 but he can play other forms of cricket starting now if his coach wants.

"The best performers from the (National Cricket League) play in the BCL. Considering this, whether Ashraful will play in the BCL or not will depend on the franchise and its selectors," Akram said on Sunday.

"The thing about Ashraful is he has been out of games. And there is also the matter of his fitness."

In 2013, Ashraful was found guilty of match-fixing in the BPL and handed an eight-year ban by a Special Tribunal formed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board.

He had pleaded guilty to the corruption and later filed an appeal asking the ban be reduced.

The initial ban was then cut down to five years, with two years’ suspended sentence subject to his participation in a BCB or ICC anti-corruption training programme.

Accordingly, Ashraful, now 32, took part in a programme and appeared in awareness videos for players and officials during the 2015 Bangladesh Premier League.

The England cricket team is supposed to visit Bangladesh at the end of September.

"Most national team players will be able to play in this BCL. But the England series will prevent some from playing the whole competition.” Akram said.

The BCL is scheduled for a Sep 20 start. It is likely to be held in Dhaka and Chittagong.