Ashraful seeks 2 years to turn Bangladesh into a quality Test team

Chittagong, May 20 (UNI) Bangladesh vice-captain Mohammed Ashraful, who wants to emulate Aravinda D'Silva's exploits, today sought two years' time to transform Bangladesh into a quality Test playing nation.

Talking to UNI here today, Ashraful said, ''Give us two years' time and we will transform into a competitive and quality Test playing nation.'' ''We have not played Test cricket for the last 13 months. We are a side in transition and we have few quality players coming up.

All we need is more time and experience to evolve into a quality Test playing side,'' he said.

When told that several former cricketers have questioned the wisdom of giving Bangladesh a Test playing nation's status, he said, ''I understand why they criticized us.

''Our records have not been exactly great. I take the criticisms positively and look a them as inspirations to prove ourselves. And I am sure we will live up to their expectations soon.'' Bangladesh has played 44 Tests till now and won only one and lost 39 of them.

On his own career, he said, ''I don't have any set goals for my career, but while I look up to Sachin Tendulkar as a great batsman, I would like to become someone like Aravinda D'Silva who carried the cricket fortunes of a nation on his own shoulders. I would like to transform my side into a champion team and take them to greater glories.'' Speaking on his own inconsistency he said, ''I know I have not been a regular run getter on the field. But I would like to put that behind me. There were certain factors that have been taken care of and since the World Cup I have transformed myself.'' Disappointed that the current Test was not getting underway, he said, ''I am sad that the Test match is not being played. I would like it to get underway. If we get a chance to bat we can put in some competition.'' The man tipped to take over from Habibul Bashar has been a sort of icon in the country being the voice of the younger generation of cricketers who have transformed the Bangladesh team into a formidable ODI squad.

After their recent exploits in the World Cup when the team beat India and South Africa, Ashraful sees the team as a force in the ODIs. ''We had our chances in the ODIs against India here and it's a matter of time before we start winning regularly.'' Ashraful with three Test centuries has an average of 24 from 33 Tests and 21 from 101 ODIs.

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