'Sachin's tips boosted my confidence'

Mohammad Ashraful said a pep talk from Tendulkar before the start of the second Test spurred him to reach the landmark.

Mohammad Ashraful, who became the highest run-getter for Bangladesh in Tests, on Tuesday said a pep talk from Sachin Tendulkar before the start of the second cricket Test actually spurred him to reach the landmark.

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"Before the match, I sought some advice from Tendulkar and he told me that I should not have any inferiority complex about my abilities. That helped a lot to improve my confidence," the 20-year-old Ashraful said on his rollicking 158 not out at the MA Aziz stadium on Sunday.

The right handed batsman's score was the highest individual score by a Bangladeshi but the hosts crashed to their 31st defeat in 34 matches following a second innings self destruction when they were all out for 124 in less than 27 overs.

Ashraful, who became the youngest to score a century on debut at the age of 16 in 2001 against Sri Lanka, said Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting were his favourite batsmen.

"I like the way they play the pull shots," said the youngster who like his idols is also short statured and measures 5'3".