TDS Desk

Mohammad Ashraful, who oversaw Rangpur Riders’ first day of training for the upcoming Global Super League on Thursday, said that he always wanted to be with cricket after retiring and he felt good to get going as the assistant coach of the Rangpur Riders for the upcoming T20 tournament.

“Alhamdulillah, feeling really good. Actually I wanted to be with cricket after retiring. I was supposed to work for Rangpur Riders in last year’s BPL, but somehow it didn’t happen. The plan was to start working from the upcoming BPL. Luckily, we are going to play the Global Super League as Barishal opted out. I’m going as an assistant coach there. Feeling good,” Ashraful told the reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium after the Riders’ training session.

Ashraful hoped his vast experience as a player will help the players he is coaching and he was eager to learn from Rangpur Riders head coach Mickey Arthur once he joins the camp in West Indies.

“I have an experience of playing international cricket for 12 years. I played First-Class cricket for almost 23-24 years. Even though this is my first assignment as a coach, I think I can help these elite players from my experience. I have been working in the academy for the last one and a half months, I’m trying to learn. I hope I can learn from Mickey Arthur. Definitely, I will share my experience. Players will be helped from that, I hope,” he said.

“I enjoy batting practice in the academy, nets. I try to bat or field after my work is done. I try to keep my fitness,” he added.