Bangladesh women’s head coach Sarwar Imran made a remarkable return to duty at the World Cup, just days after suffering a minor stroke. The 66-year-old was discharged from hospital on Tuesday and was back at team training the very next day. By Thursday, he was present at Bangladesh’s opening match in Colombo, where his side secured a convincing seven-wicket win over Pakistan.
Though he spent a majority of the game inside the dressing room rather than in the dugout, his presence was said to have been “huge” for the players. Team manager SM Golam Faiyaz noted that Imran wanted to return quickly so as not to “dishearten” the team and is presently feeling much improved, although doctors have counseled monitoring him closely.
Imran, who is viewed as one of the most experienced coaches in Bangladesh cricket, is also expected to travel with the team on Friday when they depart Colombo to Guwahati for their next group fixture. Bangladesh meet England in their second World Cup gathering on Tuesday and the presence of Imran will once again be vital for a team looking to gain momentum early in the tournament.
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