[Miraz]

And Ashraful wins
Cricket World ® Player Of The Week award

Cricket World ® Player Of The Week - M Ashraful


10 April 2007

Cricket World ® Player Of The Week - Mohammad Ashraful
Mohammad Ashraful in action during his 87 against South Africa.
©REUTERS/Adnan Abidi (GUYANA) Picture Supplied by Action Images


Bangladeshi batsman Mohammad Ashraful has been named as the Cricket World ® Player Of The Week for his outstanding batting performance against South Africa.

Ashraful scored 87 runs, off 83 balls, as his late charge helped Bangladesh post a total of 251 for 8, which was enough for them to win by 67 runs and throw the World Cup wide open.

Ashraful who, up until that innings, had had a slightly disappointing World Cup, evoked memories of his match-winning century against Australia in Cardiff with another performance that paved the way for the under-rated Bangladeshis to topple the world leading South Africans.

South Africa have since dropped off from the top spot in the world rankings to number two, but as no-one seemed to be giving Bangladesh a chance before the match, their victory was all the more remarkable, and without Ashraful’s 87, it may not have been possible.

Commenting on the award, Website Editor Nick Gear, “Ashraful’s blistering knock was the turning point of the match which set up the stunning victory for the Tigers”

The Cricket World ® Player Of The Week is judged by the www.cricketworld.com Editorial Team, which takes into consideration matches played in the preceding week with the final decision made on Monday morning.