Mohammad Ashraful
A teenage prodigy who stunned the cricketing world by scoring a century against Sri Lanka, becoming a symbol of Bangladesh's arrival on the global stage.
Born 1984 (age 42)·Bangladeshi cricketer·Birthday: July 7·Millennials
Biography
Mohammad Ashraful burst onto the international scene as a 17-year-old with an audacious, match-winning century against a formidable Sri Lankan attack in 2001. That innings announced not just a precocious talent, but the competitive spirit of an entire cricketing nation. His career was a rollercoaster of breathtaking flashes of genius—like his 158 not out against India—interspersed with prolonged periods of inconsistency. For over a decade, he carried the hopes of Bangladesh fans, his wristy strokeplay capable of dismantling any bowling attack on his day. While his later years were marred by a ban for involvement in match-fixing, his early heroics remain etched in memory, representing a pivotal moment when Bangladesh cricket demanded to be taken seriously.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Mohammad was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mohammad Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Mohammad's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the youngest player to score a Test century at 17 years and 61 days old in 2001.
- Scored a match-winning 158 not out against India in an ODI in 2004.
- Captained the Bangladesh national cricket team from 2007 to 2009.
- Was part of the Bangladesh team that defeated India and South Africa in the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Did You Know?
His Test century debut made him an instant national hero in Bangladesh.
He is a right-handed batsman who also bowls occasional leg breaks.
He played for the Mumbai Champs in the now-defunct Indian Cricket League.
“That first century was for every boy in Bangladesh who ever held a bat.”
