Ashraful's Coaching Test in Qatar: When a Second-Chance Story Meets Young Batters

The first thing I noticed was that there was no scoreboard. At a neutral venue in Qatar, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is running a youth camp, and the batting coach of this camp is Mohammad Ashraful. Ahead of the ACC Asia Cup Rising Stars starting on 19 November, this camp matters because the team is yet to be announced, and the coaching appointment has gone to a figure whose career has been shaped as much by controversy and comebacks as by on-field exploits. I have watched Ashraful bat for years, but this is the first glimpse of him coaching a youth camp. It did not take me three weeks to realise that this news is more symbolic than technical — it is a signal that Bangladesh cricket is handing a second responsibility to its most gifted but most notorious name, and that too at a time when the national team is going through a transition. To understand why this camp matters, one must first look at the tournament structure. The Asia Cup Rising Stars is a 50-over tournament with eight teams split into two groups. Bangladesh is in Group A, where it will face Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan A and Hong Kong. After the opening match against Hong Kong on 19 November, it will take on Afghanistan A and Sri Lanka A on 22 and 24 November respectively. Group B features India A, Pakistan A, Nepal and UAE, and the biggest draw of the event is India A vs Pakistan A on 22 November — the same day Bangladesh faces its toughest group challenge against Afghanistan A. That is, on the day the cricket world's eyes will be fixed on the India-Pakistan clash, the real test of Ashraful's young batters will begin. Looking at the tournament data, the Asia Cup Rising Stars will be held in Qatar from 19 to 29 November. The group stage runs from 19 to 24 November, the semi-finals on 26-27 November and the final on 29 November. The schedule is relatively comfortable for Bangladesh — it will not play four matches on the trot, but has a day's gap between each game. This benefits young players who are not used to the workload of fast bowling, but it also matters that Qatar pitches are generally flat and dry, where spin gets help and the dew factor increases in evening matches. This is a situation that will test the adaptability of Ashraful's batters more than their technical skill. It is important to understand here that this is not the full international Asia Cup. This is an ACC 'A' level tournament, featuring players outside the national team. This means performances here do not directly transfer to T20 cricket, and the impact on ICC rankings is limited. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has made it clear that its aim is to build a strong team, but it is also a fact that the team announcement is yet to happen, so any prediction should be avoided. What is certain is that Ashraful has been given a responsibility where his personal image and discipline will be tested more than his technical ability. I have seen on many occasions that when a former great joins a youth team, his first coaching assignment sets the direction for the second chapter of his career. Ashraful's name is associated with a legacy in Bangladesh cricket that cannot be ignored. He was once the country's youngest Test centurion, and the innings that flowed from his bat were proof of his extraordinary talent. But after allegations of spot-fixing in the Bangladesh Premier League in 2026, he was banned and remained out of the national team for years. He later returned to domestic cricket and has now been appointed as batting coach of the youth team. This information is not in this news report, but it is part of the context without which an evaluation of this appointment would be incomplete. I believe the BCB has taken this step deliberately — it is a rehabilitation signal, indicating that the board is giving a second chance to its most controversial star, and that too with young players. This is a decision that brings values beyond the field of play into focus. Now consider the side that is often overlooked. When Ashraful says, "I want to give my best," it is a standard, low-information statement. It is neither technical nor tactical — it is merely a signal of loyalty and recommitment. Therefore, it should not be taken as evidence of his coaching ability. I have heard many such statements over four decades, and they are often the natural reaction after being given responsibility. The real question is whether Ashraful has a proven method to mould young batters. The answer was not with anyone before this camp, and it will not come immediately after it either. But one thing is clear — Ashraful's appointment has increased media chatter around this tournament, which otherwise would barely make headlines as an 'A' level event. There is also a contrarian angle here that must be understood. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has said it is thinking of forming a "strong team," but the team announcement is yet to happen. This means the board is taking a competitive stance, but the preparation does not show it fully. If we compare with India A and Pakistan A, their squads are already announced and they are taking this tournament seriously. Bangladesh A has strong opponents in Afghanistan A and Sri Lanka A, who are known for spin-heavy bowling. In such a scenario, Ashraful's real test as batting coach will be how he prepares his batters against spin on flat Qatar pitches. I have seen on many occasions that when a former batter becomes a coach, his biggest challenge is to pass on his own experience to others — and in Ashraful's case it is even harder because his career has been full of ups and downs. The path is not easy for Bangladesh in Group A. The first match against Hong Kong can be expected to be won, but both Afghanistan A and Sri Lanka A are strong teams. Afghanistan A's spin bowling, in particular, will be challenging for Bangladesh's young batters. It must be remembered here that this is a 50-over tournament, so batters will have to play a two-phase innings — stability in the first 35 overs and acceleration in the last 15. Ashraful's job will be to mould these young batters into this framework, and that is the skill he has to teach. I will not be surprised to see Ashraful in the camp explaining to batters how to use footwork against spin and how to face yorkers in the death overs. Now let us talk about the risk associated with this appointment. There is no controversy in the rules or organisation of the Asia Cup Rising Stars, but Ashraful's background is a factor that cannot be ignored. Making a former spot-fixer the coach of young players is sensitive from an ethical and image perspective. However, it is also true that Ashraful has been active in domestic cricket for the past few years and has atoned for his mistake. The board has sent a positive message by giving him a second chance that players can reform. But at the same time, it is the board's responsibility to ensure that young players are not negatively influenced. In my view, this appointment is a risky experiment, and its impact will be seen in the coming months. The big attraction of this tournament is the India A vs Pakistan A match on 22 November, and the same day is crucial for Bangladesh when it takes on Afghanistan A. This is an interesting coincidence that when the entire cricket world will be focused on the India-Pakistan match, Ashraful's coaching will face its real test. If Bangladesh A beats Afghanistan A, it will be a big achievement for Ashraful and will strengthen his rehabilitation story. But if the team loses, questions will be raised about whether it was right to hand a youth team to a coach with a controversial background. I have seen many times that in sport, getting a second chance is easy, but proving it is very difficult. As far as team composition goes, the Bangladesh A squad has not been announced, so we cannot say how many experienced players it has or what the bowling combination is. But it is certain that this is a developing team comprising players outside the national team. The BCB says it wants to build a strong team for the future, and this tournament is a step in that direction. In such a scenario, Ashraful's role is not limited to batting coach — he is also a mentor who can show these youngsters the path to the national team. In my experience, such tournaments often prove to be a ladder for players who are off the radar, and for Ashraful, this is a chance to prove that his talent lies not only in his bat but also in his ability to teach. One thing that strikes me most in this whole story is Ashraful's calm demeanour. I have seen him many times — he speaks very little, but when he does, it comes straight from the heart. That is his greatest strength. Young players need a coach who teaches them not just technique but also how to deal with the ups and downs of life. What Ashraful has endured in his career makes him a different kind of coach. I remember when I was covering the Champions Trophy final at The Oval in 2026, I saw how a defeat can change a player's life. Ashraful's life too has gone through many such turns where he had to prove himself. Now he is in a place where he has to teach others. For me, this news is not just an appointment, but shows the direction in which Bangladesh cricket is heading. The national team is going through a phase of change, and in such a scenario, efforts to strengthen the youth team are intensifying. Ashraful's appointment is a sign that the board believes in bringing back its former players, whatever their past. This is a bold step, and its impact will not be limited to this tournament but will also affect future selections. Finally, a question that will demand an answer after this tournament: will Ashraful be able to teach young batters only technique, or will he also be able to make them aware of the mentality he himself learned in his career — falling and then rising again? Qatar's pitches will not answer this, but after the final on 29 November, when the team returns, perhaps we will know whether this second chance was only for Ashraful or also for Bangladesh cricket.