Suspended batsman Mohammad Ashraful is still hopeful of making a comeback in the national team after serving a five-year international ban that ends on August 13. He was initially banned for eight years for his involvement in match-fixing and spot-fixing in the 2013 Bangladesh Premier League [BPL]. The ban was later reduced to five years in September 2014.

The youngest Test centurion also served a three-year suspension from domestic cricket before finally resuming his career at the domestic level in August 2016.

“I have been waiting for August 13, 2018 for a long time now. I have been in exile for more than five years. I have played in domestic cricket in the last two seasons, and now I am also eligible for national selection. Being able to play for Bangladesh, once again, will be a big achievement for me,” Ashraful reportedly said.

The right-handed batsman struggled in the first season after his return to domestic cricket, but came back strongly in the next season and amassed 665 runs in 13 DPL [Dhaka Premier League] matches at an average of 66.5. He also belted five centuries and a half-century in that season [2017/18].

“The first season after my return wasn’t very good, but I played well in 2017-18. I hope to play even better in the coming season,” Ashraful added.

“Now I can get a chance [in the national team] depending on my performance. I have already participated in a one-month-long training program and after 15th August I will participate in another training program ahead of the National Cricket League [NCL].”