Post August 13, first priority is to earn trust back: Mohammad Ashraful

MIRPUR: When Bangladesh take on India in the Asia Cup final on Sunday, the immensely talented but disgraced Mohammad Ashraful will watch from the sidelines wondering why his moral compass deviated, leading to a match-fixing ban and a regret that will last a lifetime.

Ashraful, who admitted to corrupt practices in Bangladesh Premier League, is expected to return to domestic cricket on August 13 this year, having served his ban, as per the decision of the ICC tribunal.

"It is not going to be very easy for me. From August 13, the day my ban is supposed to officially end, a new battle will begin. That is to regain the trust of the people. If you ask me, I am happy that I could again play atleast club cricket. But I am expecting to resume my first-class career for Dhaka Metropolitan," Ashraful, now 32, told PTI during an interaction.

But Ashraful knows and has accepted the fact that there will be trust issues once he is back in the side.

"There is no doubt in my mind that there will be a distinct lack of trust when I make a comeback. The dressing room might not be as welcoming as it should be and rightly so. I have made a mistake and winning the trust is also a part o my road to redemption.

"I have to be patient with them. I had failed them when I did all those wrong things. They are well within their rights if they have trust issues with me," Ashraful is candid in his admission.

At 32, his best years are behind him and a lifelong stigma of being a 'fixer' has been attached to his name. But in his mind, he still wants to add on to his tally of 61 Tests, 177 ODIs and 23 T20 Internationals.

Asked if T20 is the only format perhaps where he can make a comeback, Ashraful said: "I think I am good enough to play all the three formats. Yes, time is not on my side but a good domestic season can help me a lot. But yes, there is a question whether BCB, the selectors and the players can trust me or not. Mohammed Amir's successful return does give me a lot of hope. I have been training regularly and doing my routines."