Potential unfulfilled
A timeline of Mohammad Ashraful's career
Mohammad Isam
18-Jun-2014
Inconsistency dogged Mohammad Ashraful's career, but it was his involvement in corrupt practices that ended it • AFP
November 2000
Mohammad Ashraful, aged 16, makes his first-class debut for Dhaka Metropolis against Sylhet Division, and scores his maiden century in his second match.
Mohammad Ashraful, aged 16, makes his first-class debut for Dhaka Metropolis against Sylhet Division, and scores his maiden century in his second match.
January 2001
Ashraful hits the headlines by scoring a century against the visiting Australian Cricket Academy, and then makes 157 in the National Cricket League against Chittagong.
Ashraful hits the headlines by scoring a century against the visiting Australian Cricket Academy, and then makes 157 in the National Cricket League against Chittagong.
April 2001
He travels to Zimbabwe as the youngest member of the Bangladesh side, and makes his ODI debut in Bulawayo, where he takes the wicket of Andy Flower with his flighted legbreaks and is dismissed for 9.
He travels to Zimbabwe as the youngest member of the Bangladesh side, and makes his ODI debut in Bulawayo, where he takes the wicket of Andy Flower with his flighted legbreaks and is dismissed for 9.
September 2001
Ashraful scores 114 in the second innings of his Test debut, against Sri Lanka at the SSC. Minutes before he reached three figures, he confided to senior batsman Aminul Islam that his forearms were too sore to raise to the dressing room. At 17 years and 61 days Ashraful was, and still is, the youngest centurion in Test cricket.
Ashraful scores 114 in the second innings of his Test debut, against Sri Lanka at the SSC. Minutes before he reached three figures, he confided to senior batsman Aminul Islam that his forearms were too sore to raise to the dressing room. At 17 years and 61 days Ashraful was, and still is, the youngest centurion in Test cricket.
January 2002
Ashraful is dropped for the first time, for the second Test against Pakistan in Chittagong, and misses the ODI series that follows.
Ashraful is dropped for the first time, for the second Test against Pakistan in Chittagong, and misses the ODI series that follows.
February-March 2004
He misses a second Test century by two runs, chopping a Heath Streak delivery on to the stumps. Later on that Zimbabwe tour, he experiences a first international win. His 32-ball 51 plays a part as Bangladesh win their first match in almost five years.
He misses a second Test century by two runs, chopping a Heath Streak delivery on to the stumps. Later on that Zimbabwe tour, he experiences a first international win. His 32-ball 51 plays a part as Bangladesh win their first match in almost five years.
December 2004
When calls of withdrawing Bangladesh's Test status are loudest, Ashraful blasts an unbeaten 158 against India in Chittagong. Bangladesh lose the Test, but his innings staves off the critics for at least another year.
When calls of withdrawing Bangladesh's Test status are loudest, Ashraful blasts an unbeaten 158 against India in Chittagong. Bangladesh lose the Test, but his innings staves off the critics for at least another year.
June 2005
Ashraful makes a miracle hundred in an ODI against Australia in Cardiff, leading Bangladesh to their first victory against the legendary side. In the next match of the NatWest Series, he hammers 94 off 52 balls, after surviving a first-ball scare against debutant Chris Tremlett, whose delivery bounced on the bails but didn't dislodge them. Ashraful finishes the tour with another half-century, against Australia. His popularity in Bangladesh is at its peak.
Ashraful makes a miracle hundred in an ODI against Australia in Cardiff, leading Bangladesh to their first victory against the legendary side. In the next match of the NatWest Series, he hammers 94 off 52 balls, after surviving a first-ball scare against debutant Chris Tremlett, whose delivery bounced on the bails but didn't dislodge them. Ashraful finishes the tour with another half-century, against Australia. His popularity in Bangladesh is at its peak.
April 2007
In the World Cup Super Eights match against South Africa, Ashraful makes 87 off 83 balls, leading Bangladesh to 251 and an upset 67-run victory. He uses the scoop shot superbly in this innings, much to the fury of Andre Nel.
In the World Cup Super Eights match against South Africa, Ashraful makes 87 off 83 balls, leading Bangladesh to 251 and an upset 67-run victory. He uses the scoop shot superbly in this innings, much to the fury of Andre Nel.
June-July 2007
After returning home from the World Cup in the Caribbean, Ashraful is appointed Bangladesh's captain. As Habibul Bashar's successor, Ashraful is Bangladesh's fifth leader. He scores an unbeaten 129 in his first series as captain, but Bangladesh lose the Tests 0-3 in Sri Lanka. He goes on to win only ten international matches across formats in 62 games.
After returning home from the World Cup in the Caribbean, Ashraful is appointed Bangladesh's captain. As Habibul Bashar's successor, Ashraful is Bangladesh's fifth leader. He scores an unbeaten 129 in his first series as captain, but Bangladesh lose the Tests 0-3 in Sri Lanka. He goes on to win only ten international matches across formats in 62 games.
September 2007
Ashraful's unbeaten 61 ousts West Indies from the inaugural World Twenty20, in South Africa. His 20-ball half-century is the fastest in the format at the time, and Bangladesh progress to the second round.
Ashraful's unbeaten 61 ousts West Indies from the inaugural World Twenty20, in South Africa. His 20-ball half-century is the fastest in the format at the time, and Bangladesh progress to the second round.
March 2008
Ashraful is involved in a scuffle with a fan at the Shere Bangla Stadium during training. He later apologises to the fan, and it is apparent that the losses and his own ordinary form are getting to him.
Ashraful is involved in a scuffle with a fan at the Shere Bangla Stadium during training. He later apologises to the fan, and it is apparent that the losses and his own ordinary form are getting to him.
October 2008
Several players form the Dhaka Gladiators team in the rebel Indian Cricket League, and are banned from mainstream cricket. Ashraful contributes 60 not out in Bangladesh's first match after the ICL departures - a comfortable win against New Zealand.
Several players form the Dhaka Gladiators team in the rebel Indian Cricket League, and are banned from mainstream cricket. Ashraful contributes 60 not out in Bangladesh's first match after the ICL departures - a comfortable win against New Zealand.
December 2008
Ashraful scores 101 against Sri Lanka in the Dhaka Test, but is overshadowed by younger team-mates like Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, who flirt with the idea of chasing 521 in the second innings. Some call it the first signs of a changing of the guard in Bangladesh cricket.
Ashraful scores 101 against Sri Lanka in the Dhaka Test, but is overshadowed by younger team-mates like Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, who flirt with the idea of chasing 521 in the second innings. Some call it the first signs of a changing of the guard in Bangladesh cricket.
June-July 2009
Despite several poor dismissals, Ashraful's attempted tickle to third man against Ireland in the World Twenty20 group match, is rated as arguably his worst shot to get out. He eventually loses the captaincy to Mashrafe Mortaza. But after Mashrafe is injured, Bangladesh crush a weakened West Indies side and Ashraful scores his first fifty in seven months during the ODI series.
Despite several poor dismissals, Ashraful's attempted tickle to third man against Ireland in the World Twenty20 group match, is rated as arguably his worst shot to get out. He eventually loses the captaincy to Mashrafe Mortaza. But after Mashrafe is injured, Bangladesh crush a weakened West Indies side and Ashraful scores his first fifty in seven months during the ODI series.
March 2010
Ashraful's inconsistency finally catches up with him, and he is dropped from the Test side for the first time in seven years. For the next three years, he is shuttled in and out of the Bangladesh team, once even at the whim of the board president.
Ashraful's inconsistency finally catches up with him, and he is dropped from the Test side for the first time in seven years. For the next three years, he is shuttled in and out of the Bangladesh team, once even at the whim of the board president.
January-February 2013
Ashraful scores a first-class hundred, and another one in the BPL. There are talks about a comeback to international cricket but, as it was revealed later, he gets involved in fixing during the Twenty20 tournament.
Ashraful scores a first-class hundred, and another one in the BPL. There are talks about a comeback to international cricket but, as it was revealed later, he gets involved in fixing during the Twenty20 tournament.
March 2013
Ashraful returns to the Test team, mainly because of Shahriar Nafees' freak injury, but makes 190 against his favourite opponents Sri Lanka.
Ashraful returns to the Test team, mainly because of Shahriar Nafees' freak injury, but makes 190 against his favourite opponents Sri Lanka.
June 2013
The BCB decides to suspend Ashraful from all forms of cricket after he confesses to the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit that he was involved in spot-fixing during the Bangladesh Premier League.
The BCB decides to suspend Ashraful from all forms of cricket after he confesses to the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit that he was involved in spot-fixing during the Bangladesh Premier League.
June 2014
Ashraful is banned for eight years by the tribunal conducting an investigation into the corruption charges brought against him by the BCB.
Ashraful is banned for eight years by the tribunal conducting an investigation into the corruption charges brought against him by the BCB.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. He tweets here