I could not prove my qualification: Mohammad Ashraful

Inconsistency is the word that better describes him. This young batsman has talents but the lacking of maturity and experience leads him to take wrong decisions. He tries to hit every ball including the wrong one which has a very negative impact in his run record. Although he has very poor average run record in world cricket, he has a very good run record against the Sri Lanka. He created a world record in his debut match against Sri Lanka.

He expresses his views in an interview with Prothom Alo: 

Q: This series is against your favorite team Sri Lanka. Are you inspirited?

Mohammad Ashraful: Of course. I could not score better in last few matches. They are good and a strong opponent. But, as my record against them is good, I am a bit inspired.

Q: You have scored 693 runs with 3 centuries. It’s the second highest of the two teams. It’s your highest run against a team. What’s the mystery?

Mohammad Ashraful: There is no different mystery. If you want to score runs against Sri Lanka, you have to play well Murali’s balls. I could understand Murali’s wrong ones better. That’s why I could score runs. I am not sure whether I will understand him this time or not. He changes his style frequently.

Q: It sounds that you have a psychological battle with Muralidharan.

Mohammad Ashraful: (Smiles back) I don’t know. But I think he becomes angry when he hears my name. But there were never exchange of hot words between us. He is a great bowler. I try to play well. That’s it.

Q: They are the most dreadful bowling team in world cricket. Do you feel it’s easy to face them?

Mohammad Ashraful: No, no… there’s no reason to feel in that way. They are superb bowlers. But this is the fact that influences me more.

Q: You have 408 total run record against them. But your performance is not consistent against other teams. How can you be so consistent against Sri Lanka?

Mohammad Ashraful: Actually I try to keep the consistency everywhere. But I think my luck favours me when I play against them. In many cases I think my luck doesn’t favour me at all.

Q: What’s your target this time?

Mohammad Ashraful: I have no target but I hope since I could not perform better in last few matches, I will try to perform better against Sri Lanka this time. As I can play their balls well, I hope to end up with good innings.

Q: Jayawardhane once criticized your average run rate and said ‘A major batsman should not have lower average.’ Do you want to answer this in words?

Mohammad Ashraful: My last century was in their field. He said this in that time. But what can I reply! What he said is right. Every body expected from me a lot and thought me as a talented cricketer for last eight years but I could not do anything. I could not prove my qualification. I can not prove his words wrong. I can only prove him wrong through increasing my average run rate consistently.

Q: Every one likes you when you score runs and criticizes you when you can not keep the consistency. What can be the way to maintain the consistency?

Mohammad Ashraful: The viewers want me to run and improve the position of our country. As I can’t do it, viewers don’t like me. I can’t blame them. But I am trying. There’s no other way. I am trying my level best. I am trying to make good use of my practice in the field.