Mohammad Ashraful’s hopes of putting up a consistent performance in the ongoing National Cricket League received a blow when illness ruled him out of second round match of the competition.
Dhaka Metropolitan batsman Ashraful scored a fine century in the first innings of their first-round match against Chittagong but he would not be available in their next round match against Sylhet, scheduled to start on Friday.
Ashraful batsman struck 104 off 194 balls, his 19th first-class hundred but first since his comeback from suspension last year, which also came out as a statement from him.
The right-handed batsman could only manage to score 123 runs in six innings at an average of 20.50 in last year’s NCL while he made just 240 runs in 10 matches for Kalabagan Krira Chakra in this year’s Dhaka Premier League.
The veteran batsman caught dengue fever during the opening round match of NCL in Chittagong and could not to bat in the second innings of the drawn match.
Ashraful confirmed New Age on Wednesday that he was getting better day by day but not in a way that could make him available for their match against Sylhet in Cox’s Bazar.
‘I’m feeling well from yesterday [Tuesday]. Doctors told me to take a rest for few days, so I’ll skip the second round match and will play from the third round,’ he said.
Ashraful hoped that the unexpected break due to illness wouldn’t stop him from slowly getting back into rhythm in the tournament.
‘I don’t think it will hamper my concentration. Anyone can fall sick, so I’m not worried about that,’ he said.
Defending champions Khulna will host Barisal while Dhaka will play against Rangur in Bogra in the top-tier second round matches.
In bottom tier match, Rajshahi, the only team to get a win from the first round, will host Chittagong at the Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium.
Khulna skipper Mashrafee bin Murtaza is expected to play one more game having made his return to first-class cricket after a gap of three years.
Mashrafee, who played his last first-class match in 2014, grabbed four wickets in the opening round, including 3-12 in the second innings against Rangpur.
-With New Age input
