Suspended batsman Mohammad Ashraful on Thursday participated in a private cricket tournament, three months before completing his ban, raising quite a few eyebrows.
Ashraful featured for Beximco Limited in the indoor corporate cricket tournament at the Shaheed Sohrawardy Indoor Stadium, hitting 40 before he retired as per the rule of the tournament.
Event management firm The 3 Crics – partially owned by Bangladesh Cricket Board cricket operation chief Akram Khan – organised the tournament for the corporate houses.
When contracted Akram denied any knowledge of Ashraful playing in the tournament as he said he was busy with a family programme.
Ashraful will be eligible to return to domestic cricket on August 13 after the end of his three-year suspension.
Former cricketer Shakil Kasem, who was involved in the trial process of Ashraful, however, said there is no bar on him playing in private league despite the suspension.
‘So far my understanding is that he is suspended only for the tournament held under auspices of BCB and ICC,’ he said.
A special tribunal set up by the BCB and the International Cricket Council banned Ashraful from all forms of cricket for eight years in 2014. The ban was reduced to five years on appeal with the last two years as suspended ban.
-With New Age input
