Removing Ashraful was not a good example, he deserved more time: Faruk Ahmed

Former captain Faruk Ahmed does not see the decision to remove Mohammad Ashraful from the post of national team batting coach as a good example. In his view, an experienced cricketer and former captain like Ashraful should have been given a little more time to work.

Ashraful took charge as batting coach of the national team in November 2025. He was initially appointed for a specific series, but his contract was later extended. However, before the contract had even ended, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) removed him from the role on 24 October.

Faruk Ahmed was the chief guest at the first semifinal of the ABG University Cup at the Anvir Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. Speaking to the media after the match, the former captain expressed his dissatisfaction over Ashraful's removal.

According to Faruk, a coach needs to be given enough time for his work to be evaluated. He also believes that, as a former captain and experienced cricketer, Ashraful's presence could have had a positive influence in the dressing room. He noted that some improvement in the team's batting had also been visible under Ashraful.

Faruk Ahmed said, 'You have not created a very good example. Ashraful was appointed when I was vice president. I think we did see some improvement in the batting, however small. When a good player works with the team, the cricketers listen carefully to what he says.'

He added that it is not right to single someone out and blame him suddenly for one or two failures. In his words, it seems as if everything went wrong because of Ashraful, which is not actually the case. He said it would have been better to give him a little more time. However, he also said he does not know what thinking led the cricket board to the decision, or who took it.

Faruk expressed disappointment not only over the Ashraful issue but also over the Bangladesh team's recent performances. Although there are occasional good wins, he sees a lack of consistency in the team's overall play. He finds it worrying that after doing well in one series, the team fails to meet expectations in the very next one.

On Bangladesh's performances, Faruk said, 'I am speaking purely from my cricketing perspective, as a former captain. The way we are playing cricket, we are not playing well, that is a fact. We are still winning in isolation, losing, and losing badly. In between, we beat Australia. And after that we probably drew. Considering that, I think I expect better performances.'

He also spoke about Bangladesh's position in Test cricket. In his view, at one point, alongside playing well in Tests, there was even a slim possibility of reaching the World Test Championship final. But he noted that the team now has to play strong sides like England and Australia ahead.

On this, Faruk said, 'If you look at the Test performance, we were fourth or fifth among eight teams. At one point there was a slight hope that we might even reach the final, although the possibility was very small. Ahead we have to play teams like England and Australia. Overall, I think our performance is not good. I hope the Bangladesh team will improve.'

Faruk does not want to place the blame for the team's failures only on the cricketers. In his view, alongside ensuring an environment where players can play naturally, the board and team management must also take responsibility. He warned that creating unreasonable pressure can have a negative effect on players' performances.

He said that if players are allowed to play tension-free, they will perform better, while excessive unreasonable pressure from outside will also cause problems. It has to be a combined effort of the management, the team, the cricket board and everyone concerned; just as everyone takes credit when the team plays well, they must also take responsibility when it plays badly, he remarked.

Calling on everyone to work together to bring consistency back to Bangladesh cricket, Faruk said that when the team fails to play well in the next series even after a success like beating Australia on Australian soil, questions arise about the team's progress. He wants consistent performances, because only by playing well consistently can a base or platform be built, he believes.