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Originally Posted by Nocturnal
I was more hurt when players ditch the national team and joined the ICL back in 2008 than Ashraful's cheating. I was actually happy cause that made him (Ash) not available for the national team. He is just a rubbish international batsman. Avg / Strike rate / consistency / experience .. the incredible number of matches he played .... Just waste of spot .. free ride ... If you give someone that many years and match they bound to score few "Eid" innings here and there. He is no great match winner. He can only get a national call if he out do all these new generation player who gets more runs with way better strike rate and consistency in domestic cricket. He has long way to go even for a national 25 member practice squad spot.
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The standard of our team has risen over the years and it is true the Ashraful of the past would not be in the first 25 players right now. However to say he was not a match winner during a period where we used to win one or 2 games a year is unfair. He played a major role in our victories back in those days. Ashraful of the past need to be compared with his peers in the team back in those days rather than the likes of Mushfiq Tamim Shakib Ryad that we have now. Compared to Golla, Rokon, Rajin Kapali Aftab etc.. Ash was the match winner in the team and the only guy who could compete with the big teams. His debut century combating Murali was not a fluke and neither was his century in Cardiff vs the Aussies or the half century vs SA in WC. He was brought into the squad way too early and never did justice to his talent but we have to acknowledge that the entire team rose to international standard only in 2007 when the likes of Shakib Tamim Mushy arrived at the scene. What Ash needs to do is prove he has matured and can be consistent. He doesnt have to prove the skill and the obvious talent he has to anyone who has watched him at his best. He faced both spin bowlers and pace bowlers of much higher quality during his days and if he finds form he will do better than the current passengers we have. I hope he gets sent to A team tours so that we really know if he can still deliver.