Another BC article makes it to Cricinfo

[AsifTheManRahman]

Not sure if the fact that this has made to Cricinfo has been discussed here already (please do point out if it has - I might have missed it).

Why Ashraful must go
Bangladesh's captain has been given plenty of rope but he has only managed to hang himself with it

Abu Choudhury
January 16, 2009

	That sinking feeling: Ashraful makes a duck, one of his 15, against New Zealand last year © AFP

After his 13 Tests and 34 ODIs at the helm, it is clear that Mohammad Ashraful is not the right man to lead Bangladesh anymore.
In the recently concluded second Test in Chittagong, Sri Lanka declared on 447 leaving Bangladesh a mammoth target of 624 for victory. Bangladesh's batting, led by their captain, had proved surprisingly resilient in the previous Test in Mirpur, and so their supporters were by no means disconsolate. However, when Mohammad Ashraful arrived at the crease in the 16th over the scorecard read a disappointing 32 for 2. After successfully negotiating some probing deliveries from Ajantha Mendis, the Bangladesh captain proceeded with caution in his next over. The script was being followed rather well; the skipper was leading by example and eschewing expansive strokeplay. That did not last long.
Just three overs later he attempted an audacious square-cut against Ajantha Mendis, only to bottom-edge the ball to the keeper. He had scored seven runs from 17 balls and lasted a total of 19 minutes at the crease. His fine hundred in Dhaka just a few days earlier seemed a distant memory.
Followers of Bangladesh cricket will not have been surprised by the soft dismissal. In the first innings of the match, Ashraful had lost his wicket attempting an ambitious reverse sweep against Muttiah Muralitharan. Ashraful's batting to date is littered with examples of missed opportunities and the failure to make the most of his talent.


বসতে দিলে শুতে চাই aka read more

[cricket_pagol]

Congrats to Abu bhai!!!

[Purbasha T]

Congrats to Abu Chy Bhai; Yes, and it's true, Ashraful has been given a lots of chances and unfortuantely he has shown glimpses of more demise than potentials

[mijanur]

tnk u guys i made this article

[abu2abu]

Thanks chaps, your kind comments are greatly appreciated.

[tonoy]

Wonderful Article Abu. But I doubt anyone will have the b@lls to drop him. Sigh.

[Zeeshan]

The photo is not a Müller-Lyer illusion. That's Ashraful's real height overshadowed by opposing captain's true height. Metaphor speaks for itself.

Back on topic: great article. (I still want my legal advice though on how to sue McDonald's for not having my cinnamon melt stating their machine broke down....)

[Tehsin]

Congrats. They needed to put a collage of pix of Ash's many wickets. It's pretty easy to find too.

[nsd3]

Ashraful should stay.

[auntu]

Nice article but I still feel that Ash should stay.

[cricket_king]

Originally Posted by mijanur
tnk u guys i made this article

Your writing skills are proof positive that you didn't.

[abu2abu]

To be honest I'm not 100% convinced ashraful should go as captain, mainly because it is not clear who his successor should be. But there's no doubting the stats; he's failed to deliver. Perhaps we could have ash as ODI captain and Mash as test captain?

[kalpurush]

Originally Posted by abu2abu
To be honest I'm not 100% convinced ashraful should go as captain, mainly because it is not clear who his successor should be. But there's no doubting the stats; he's failed to deliver. Perhaps we could have ash as ODI captain and Mash as test captain?

Case solved. Next -

[tiger_club]

Source from Cricinfo

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/maga...ry/386569.html

Author: Abu Choudhury
Date: January 16, 2009

Here is the full story:

Bangladesh's captain has been given plenty of rope but he has only managed to hang himself with it

After his 13 Tests and 34 ODIs at the helm, it is clear that Mohammad Ashraful is not the right man to lead Bangladesh anymore.

In the recently concluded second Test in Chittagong, Sri Lanka declared on 447 leaving Bangladesh a mammoth target of 624 for victory. Bangladesh's batting, led by their captain, had proved surprisingly resilient in the previous Test in Mirpur, and so their supporters were by no means disconsolate. However, when Mohammad Ashraful arrived at the crease in the 16th over the scorecard read a disappointing 32 for 2. After successfully negotiating some probing deliveries from Ajantha Mendis, the Bangladesh captain proceeded with caution in his next over. The script was being followed rather well; the skipper was leading by example and eschewing expansive strokeplay. That did not last long.

Just three overs later he attempted an audacious square-cut against Ajantha Mendis, only to bottom-edge the ball to the keeper. He had scored seven runs from 17 balls and lasted a total of 19 minutes at the crease. His fine hundred in Dhaka just a few days earlier seemed a distant memory.

Followers of Bangladesh cricket will not have been surprised by the soft dismissal. In the first innings of the match, Ashraful had lost his wicket attempting an ambitious reverse sweep against Muttiah Muralitharan. Ashraful's batting to date is littered with examples of missed opportunities and the failure to make the most of his talent.

Against New Zealand in Chittagong last year, Bangladesh came close to achieving their first Test win against a reasonably ranked side. They had posted scores of 245 and 242, thanks largely to an invaluable partnership from Mehrab Hossain Jnr and Mushfiqur Rahim in the first innings, and obdurate contributions from Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Mortaza in the second. Bangladesh's most naturally gifted batsman contributed scores of 2 and 0: in both innings Ashraful lost his wicket minutes after he saw his partner depart; to do so once might be termed unlucky, to do so twice is just plain careless.

In November last year Bangladesh struggled against the fine-tuned pace attack of Messrs Steyn, Ntini and Morkel in South Africa. In the second innings in Centurion, Ashraful played well, hitting consecutive boundaries off Steyn. But in his search for quick runs he underestimated the fielding ability of Hashim Amla and was run out pursuing an unnecessary second run. It was said at the time that Bangladesh had batted like they were chasing a total rather than trying to consolidate. No one was guiltier of this than Ashraful, who once again failed to adapt his game to fit the match situation.

After 48 Test matches and over 100 ODIs, Ashraful continues to bat with a cavalier disregard for his wicket. He excites and confounds in equal measure. Whether such a man should continue to captain his country should now be questioned.

When he was appointed captain in June 2007, it was in the expectation that the country's most potent batsman would raise his game when entrusted with such an important role. After 13 Tests in charge, the statistics show that this has not been the case. Prior to his appointment Ashraful played 35 Tests, scoring seven half-centuries and three hundreds, and averaging just over 24. Since his promotion to the top job he has scored two hundreds, no other fifties, and averages just over 22. His two centuries as captain have come against Sri Lanka; the first was scored in 2007 and the second in that recent test in Mirpur. In the 17 innings he played in 2008, he averaged 16, and he managed a score in double figures less than 50% of the time. A captain must lead by example; such poor returns clearly indicate that Ashraful has learned little in his 18 months in charge. There should be no place for a batsman who scores a century every year and a half or so, even in a team as lowly as Bangladesh.

Bangladesh's status in world cricket means that a comparison with other captains would be unfair to Ashraful, and misleading. However, a comparison with his team-mates is instructive. In the 10 Tests Shakib Al Hasan has played since Ashraful became captain he has scored two half-centuries and averages just under 27. The opener Tamim Iqbal has also played 10 Tests under Ashraful's captaincy and averages a shade under 23. Both men are much younger and less experienced than their captain. Ashraful is clearly unable to play with the sort of pluck and tenacity required to inspire his team.

Statistics, of course, never tell the whole story. It is the thoughtless and capricious manner of Ashraful's dismissals that cause concern. Batting is Bangladesh's Achilles heel; they need a captain who is able to demonstrate maturity and circumspection at the crease.

In limited-overs cricket Ashraful fares better. In his pre-captaincy days he featured in 101 ODIs, scoring 11 fifties and one century and averaging just under 22. Since the captaincy was thrust upon him, he has played 34, registered one century (against the UAE) and five fifties, and his average is a healthier 28. He is nonetheless eclipsed by young Tamim Iqbal, who has played 34 ODIs in the same period and averages 29.50.

In the 17 innings he played in 2008, Ashraful averaged 16, and he managed a score in double figures less than 50% of the time. A captain must lead by example; such poor returns clearly indicate that Ashraful has learned little in his 18 months in charge

Despite the slight upturn in his fortunes in one-day cricket, to allow Ashraful to continue as captain would be to reward failure, or at the very least mediocrity. When Jamie Siddons was appointed coach his stated intention was to transform Bangladesh from an occasionally effective side into a competitive and hard-working outfit. Ashraful's performances are the antithesis of such noble intentions. Where patience and fortitude are required, Ashraful responds with the lackadaisical and reckless. Where courage under fire is called for, he commonly offers meek surrender.

Bangladesh have indulged their captain to an unprecedented degree. This may seem understandable for a country with such a limited pool of players, but even so, Ashraful has been immensely fortunate. A Bangladesh batsman of comparable batting ability is Alok Kapali, who spent two years in the wilderness before earning a recall in June 2008. Ashraful has only ever lost his place in the side fleetingly. Other Test nations too expect players to earn a place at the top table. How it must pain the likes of England's Owais Shah or India's Mohammad Kaif to see Ashraful continue to represent his country despite his indiscretions.

He has made some mistakes along the way, but Ashraful is by no means the least tactically astute captain in world cricket. It is his ability to inspire his troops and lead by example that must be questioned. It was rumoured that in September last year Siddons had suggested Ashraful might want to relinquish the captaincy, to help him focus on his fragile batting.

Removing Ashraful from the captaincy would raise the matter of who should succeed him. Many of the obvious candidates are ineligible due to their association with the Indian Cricket League. If Kapali was still in the fold and displaying half the form he has demonstrated in the ICL, he would surely have been a candidate, as would have Shahriar Nafees.

Among the current crop, Mushfiqur Rahim has demonstrated the application and determination required to succeed at the highest level, and Shakib is a hardworking and shrewd cricketer. Both have leadership potential but are probably too young to take on such a demanding job just yet. Rajin Saleh has held the position in the past, but it would be difficult to consider someone who fails to command a regular place in the side.

The appointment of Ashraful as captain was by no means a mistake; at the time he was the obvious choice. However, after a reasonable period in charge, there are compelling reasons to conclude that he lacks the temperament to succeed. It is time his position was reviewed. Mashrafe Mortaza, the vice-captain, is best placed to succeed him and could yet prove to be an inspired choice.

[karimjay.]

very good article.

although i do not agree with masri being a good captain..

[tiger_club]

well, Mortaza is the 2nd most experienced player in the team after Ash.. until he gets the role we can't really say anything about his ability...

[nsd3]

What about Mashrafi's superstitious attitude - think today we might win or think this is a bad day...nah we can't win. Has the writer kept this for later period when Mashrafi will face the defeats on account of 'bolod' like play by our batsmen again and again?

[nahaz]

Mashrafee doesn't want to bowl with the old ball...Ash said it himself yesterday and this is the reason behind him finishing his quota very early on two crucial matches. If he can't push himself, if he can't do this for the team, why shud he be the leader?

Btw this article's already been posted on a number of threads, so hoiw come u decided to open a new one?

[Mav]

He needs to go from the 11 forsure and there are better mature player than higher IQ than him to be the captain of the team.

[nycpro96]

Originally Posted by Mav
He needs to go from the 11 forsure and there are better mature player than higher IQ than him to be the captain of the team.

exactle who is this mr. higher IQ? wish we found him long time ago

[rashed411]

Originally Posted by nycpro96
exactle who is this mr. higher IQ? wish we found him long time ago

everyone in the team has higher iq than ash. asrhaful was either dropped on his head when he was a baby or he got hit really hard by a cricket ball.

[crikfreak]

its an awesome article... read it in cricinfo a few days back... good one abu bhayya....