My son can make mistakes, but I can’t ignore him: Wahidul Gani

Wahidul Gani, Mohammad Ashraful’s cricketing mentor and first coach, was saddened by his student’s plight and said that it was the batsman’s childishness and lack of education that led to him falling into the trap of matchfixing.    Wahidul, a veteran leg spinner from the early eighties, saw the potential of Ashraful at a young age and had a large role in guiding him into the limelight as one of the most talented batsmen to ever come out of Bangladesh.   Recently, Mohammed Ashraful confessed his involvement in match fixing to the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Security Unit in an action that has shaken the country. He has been banned from all cricketing activity until an investigation into his doings are completed.   Wahidul Gani, who has known Ashraful since the batsman was but a child, said, “I have no words to describe this. I know him very closely. For me it’s hard to believe that he can do this.   “Personally speaking, Ashraful is not an educated person and the friends he is close with are also like him and I think that’s one of the main factors why he is not smart in dealing with such things.”   The coach mentioned that Ashraful was in the habit of consulting with him over most things, but he had never mentioned “fixing”.  “He (Ashraful) always keep in touch with me and consulted with me on various issues, but Ashraful never told me anything about match fixings.   “But if I had any idea about such a thing, I would have guided him so that he never gets involved with such things”, said Wahidul.   Whatever has happened, Wahidul remains a firm friend of the disgraced player. “Look, my son can make mistakes, but I can’t ignore him when they are in trouble. I will always try to stand beside him and give him moral support, but yes whatever he did is wrong”, said the guru, with the ghost of tears in his eyes.   Speaking on the likely life ban that Ashraful will face, Wahidul argued against the move. “The type of crime he has done, I am sure he is going to face some serious actions, but personally I think he should not be banned for whole life. He has still a lot to give and I hope that he should end his career from the field not like this,” hoped the guru.   “Ahsraful called me after all this happened, he cried over the phone and apologised to me and told me not to worry about him and to take care of my health, as he also loves me and respect me a lot,” finished Wahidul Gani.