On this day in 2001, the young prodigy Mohammad Ashraful scripted history by becoming the test cricket’s youngest centurion in the game’s longest format.
Mohammad Ashraful made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in September at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Nobody anticipated that the talented young man would go on to become a superstar in his country at the time.
BAN vs SL, Asian Test Championship 2001
In the second match of the 2001 Asian Test Championship, the Bangla Tigers were bowled out for 90 in the first innings, Ashraful displayed some of his skill by leading the way with 26 runs.
When his side was 81/4 in the second innings and they were 465 down, the 17-year-old walked in and went on to become the youngest batsman to ever record a Test century. As his team was bowled out for 328 and defeated by an innings and 137 runs, Ashraful scored 114.
A youthful Ashraful put up a valiant 114 while hitting 16 boundaries at a strike rate of 53.77.
Ashraful Surpassed Mushtaq Mohammad to Become The Youngest to Score a Ton in Test Cricket
By scoring the century at the age of 17 years and 61 days, Ashraful surpassed the previous record held by former Pakistani batsman Mushtaq Mohammad by 17 days. Indian Sachin Tendulkar, who struck his debut century against England in Manchester at the age of 17 years 107 days, is third on the list of the youngest players to record a Test century.
After making the hundred, the young player quickly rose to the status as the face of Bangladesh cricket. He even had a significant hand in Bangladesh’s legendary ODI victory against Australia in England.
Later on, the solid batter led his nation in all competitions of cricket.
His career was cut short by inconsistent play and off-field issues, including hitting a spectator and admitting to spot-fixing in Bangladesh Premier League games.
Ashraful represented Bangladesh in 61 Tests, 177 ODIs, and 23 T20Is. In May 2013, he played his last One Day International match of his career against Zimbabwe.
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