Salahuddin Takes Over as Bangladesh Batting Coach: What It Means

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-25

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has named Mohammad Salahuddin as the interim batting coach of the men's national team. He steps in for Mohammad Ashraful, who has been reassigned ahead of the two-Test series against West Indies. It's a change that caught many by surprise, but it might be exactly what the team needs right now. ### Why the Change Was Made According to a BCB media release, Ashraful will take on a new role within the board, though the specifics haven't been disclosed. Salahuddin, who previously served as assistant coach and handled the batting unit before Ashraful took over, will hold the fort until a permanent successor is named. The board is reportedly in talks with foreign candidates for the permanent position. Ashraful's departure was swift. He was informed by BCB cricket operations and left the national players' WhatsApp group on Saturday with a message of thanks. He confirmed he's no longer with the team and is awaiting his next assignment. Just hours before, he had been at a training session with the squad at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. ### Bangladesh's Performance Under Ashraful Ashraful's tenure, which began in November 2025, saw Bangladesh win five of eight Tests, draw one, and lose two. The side swept Ireland 2-0 and beat Pakistan by the same margin in May, with Mushfiqur Rahim scoring 253 runs, including a national-record 14th Test hundred, and earning player of the series. In white-ball cricket, Bangladesh beat Pakistan 2-1 in an ODI series in March and secured a historic 2-1 ODI series win against Australia in June—their first ever over that opponent. Australia took the T20I series 3-0, and the Test series was drawn 1-1. Bangladesh won in Darwin but lost in Mackay within two days after being bowled out for 64. Between November 2025 and October 2026, Bangladesh scored 11 centuries in 34 internationals. However, the batting group struggled in recent tournaments, with poor displays at the Asian Games in Japan and the tri-nation series in Abu Dhabi, where they lost the final to Afghanistan. ### Ashraful's Career and What's Next Ashraful played 61 Tests, 177 ODIs, and 23 T20Is for Bangladesh, scoring 3,468 ODI runs—the fifth-highest for his country. He became the youngest player to score a Test hundred and, at 20, captained Bangladesh to a win over Australia in 2005. His career was marred by a 2013 ban for match-fixing in the Bangladesh Premier League, but he returned three years later and moved into coaching. Salahuddin's first assignment is the opening Test against West Indies, starting October 28 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. Fast bowler Nahid Rana will miss the series with a labrum tear, adding to the home side's selection headaches. The BCB hasn't set a date for naming a permanent batting coach. > "It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it," a BCB official quipped when asked about the interim appointment. For now, all eyes are on Salahuddin to see if he can steady the ship. With a challenging series ahead and key players missing, his experience will be crucial. The team's batting has shown flashes of brilliance but also frustrating inconsistency. Salahuddin's familiarity with the group could be the stabilizing factor they need. As for Ashraful, his next move remains unclear, but his contributions to Bangladesh cricket, both as a player and coach, are undeniable. The board's decision to reassign him might be part of a larger restructuring, but only time will tell. One thing's for sure: Bangladesh cricket never has a dull moment. Stay tuned for more updates.