Ashraful removed as Bangladesh batting coach ahead of West Indies Tests

Bangladesh have removed Mohammad Ashraful from his position as the national men's team batting coach just days before the opening Test against West Indies, with Mohammad Salahuddin set to oversee the batting unit on an interim basis.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) informed Ashraful of the decision on Saturday, October 24. BCB media committee chairman Asif Rabbani confirmed that Ashraful would no longer be part of the national team setup, while Salahuddin would take responsibility for the batting department during the two-Test series.

Ashraful also confirmed his departure from the role, saying he was no longer working with the national side. The board has not publicly disclosed a detailed reason for the change or clarified his next assignment.

The decision comes at a crucial stage of Bangladesh's preparations for the West Indies series, with the first Test scheduled to begin at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on October 28. The second Test will be played in Sylhet from November 5.

Ashraful was appointed batting coach in November 2025. During his tenure, Bangladesh recorded notable results in Test cricket, including a 2-0 series victory over Ireland and a 2-0 win against Pakistan. The team also drew its away Test series against Australia 1-1.

However, Bangladesh's recent batting performances in limited-overs cricket have been disappointing. The Tigers failed to reach the final of the UAE tri-series after losing to Zimbabwe and Afghanistan, with repeated batting collapses undermining their campaign.

Salahuddin, who heads the BCB's High Performance programme, is familiar with the national setup, having previously served as an assistant coach. His temporary appointment gives Bangladesh an experienced domestic coach to work with the batters during the upcoming Test assignment.

The BCB is reportedly considering foreign candidates for the permanent batting coach position, with a decision expected after the West Indies series.

With little time before the opening Test, the immediate challenge for the coaching staff will be to help Bangladesh's batters prepare for the home series while adjusting to the change in responsibilities.