Ashraful made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe on 11 April 2001, where he made 9 runs and Bangladesh lost the match by 36 runs.
He took his first international wicket in the match, that of Andy Flower.

Ashraful made his Test debut on 6 September 2001 against Sri Lanka.
He top-scored in each innings, and although Bangladesh slumped to an innings defeat, Ashraful scored 114, becoming the youngest player to score a Test century, beating Mushtaq Mohammad's record, and was named man of the match.
He was the second Bangladesh player to score a Test century on debut, after Aminul Islam Bulbul in 2000 during Bangladesh's first Test.
Trevor Chappell, a former coach of Bangladesh's national side, commented that "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."
Following Ashraful's debut century, however, a prolonged string of poor performances resulted in him being dropped from the national team.
Ashraful made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe on 11 April 2001, where he made 9 runs and Bangladesh lost the match by 36 runs. He took his first international wicket in the match, that of Andy Flower.
Ashraful made his Test debut on 6 September 2001 against Sri Lanka. He top-scored in each innings, and although Bangladesh slumped to an innings defeat, Ashraful scored 114, becoming the youngest player to score a Test century, beating Mushtaq Mohammad's record, and was named man of the match. He was the second Bangladesh player to score a Test century on debut, after Aminul Islam Bulbul in 2000 during Bangladesh's first Test. Trevor Chappell, a former coach of Bangladesh's national side, commented that "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." Following Ashraful's debut century, however, a prolonged string of poor performances resulted in him being dropped from the national team.
Mohammad Ashraful