Mohammad Ashraful hopeful for international comeback

The 34-year-old will be eligible to represent the national side, with the international ban ending on August 13.

Bangladesh batsman Mohammad Ashraful is hopeful for his international comeback. He was suspended for five years from international cricket and three years from the domestic circuit for his involvement in match and spot-fixing in the 2013 edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

The 34-year-old will be eligible to represent the national side, with the international ban ending on August 13.

"I have been waiting for August 13, 2018, for a long time now," Ashraful was quoted as saying by ESPN Cricinfo.

"It has been more than five years since the day I admitted my involvement. Although I have played domestic cricket in the last two seasons, there is now nothing preventing me from being eligible for national selection," he added.

Beside fining 10 lakh Bangladeshi Taka, BPL’s anti-corruption tribunal had banned Ashraful for eight years in June 2014. However, later in the same year during September, a disciplinary panel of the Bangladesh Cricket Board reduced the ban to five years.

"Playing for Bangladesh again will be my greatest achievement," Ashraful expressed.