On this day 22 years ago on 8 September 2001, Mohammad Ashraful became the youngest batsman to score a Test century after beating the previous record of the Pakistan batsman Mushtaq Mohammad. Notably, Mushtaq Mohammad was 17 years and 78 days old when he scored a century in Test. However, Mohammad Ashraful was 17 years 61 days old when he scored his first Test century.
Mohammad Ashraful made his Test debut for the Bangladesh cricket team against Sri Lanka in the Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo. Ashraful showcased his brilliant talent as Bangladesh batted first, but got bowled out for mere 90 runs while he became the top scorer for the team by scoring 26 runs.
However, while trailing by 465 runs, Mohammad Ashraful walked into the crease in the second innings for Bangladesh at the score of 81/4. The middle order batsmen showed his master class on just his debut match as he scored a mind blowing century. Ashraful scored 114 runs while majorly contributing for his team. Bangladesh, however, got bowled out once again for 328 runs and lost the match by 137 runs and an innings.
Bangladesh might have lost the match but they found an amazing middle order batsman in Mohammad Ashraful who consistently performed well for his team. Mohammad Ashraful has appeared in 61 Test matches for Bangladesh while playing 119 innings and has scored 2737 runs with a strike rate of 46.08 and average of 24.01 while smashing 8 half centuries and six centuries.
Then Bangladesh head coach Trevor Chappell while appreciating Mohammed Ashraful as he became the youngest batsman to score a Test century in the history of Cricket. He said, “His determination, commitment and attention to detail would put a mature and an established person to shame. The manner he concentrates on his batting made me believe that the lad is destined to have a long cricketing journey.”