Very tough for Ashraful to make a comeback, says BCB chief selector

The international ban on former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful ended on Monday, but Chief Selector Minhajul Abedin does not see room for the batsman in the national team now, reports bdnews24.com.

In 2013, Ashraful was found guilty of match-fixing in the Bangladesh Premier League and handed an eight-year ban by the Bangladesh Cricket Board.

The ban was eventually reduced to five years, with two years' suspended sentence following his appeal.

Ashraful got the scope to play domestic cricket in August, 2016. The suspended sentence, during which he could not play franchise and international cricket, is ending now.

Minhajul, however, said they want to see Ashraful play in all formats in domestic cricket and understand the level of his fitness for at least a year before making a call on his return to international cricket.

"I would say that he doesn't have a place in the team at this moment. He is not attached to the level of fitness of the teams from HP to 'A' team to the national side. He will have to give himself some more time to reach this level," the chief selector told the media the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

"We can consider his case if he can stay at this level. So, now we are not thinking about him," Minhajul added.

The chief selector, however, does not think that age will prove a barrier for Ashraful, who turned 34 on July 7.