BCB's friend in time of need
“You can say it has completed the cycle.” Coach Sarwar Imran playfully replied when his attention was drawn to his new job with the national women's cricket team.
How this strictly disciplined man will be remembered in the history of Bangladesh cricket only time will tell, but at present he is the man the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) rely on most whenever they need a job done at any level; whether it's the duty of head coach of the national team or any age-level team.
“When I was requested to take care of the women's team for the tour of Ireland, I accepted it because I always enjoy working. It doesn't matter whether it is with the national team, any age-level team or in any other capacity,” said Imran.
“If you get a chance to work with any team for at least two or three years you will enjoy it the most as it gives the opportunity to go ahead with a long-term vision, but I am still happy with the way my career as a coach has unfolded. I am fortunate to have worked with so many teams, so many boys and now with girls, at different levels. That gives me immense pleasure,” he continued.
Imran was the head coach during Bangladesh's historic inaugural Test against India in 2000 and was then involved with the national side as a head coach or assistant coach at different times. He coached the second string A side on many occasions and has been working with the High Performance Unit since 2000, playing a pivotal role in the pacer hunt programme and he is an essential part of the domestic circuit.
“I didn't work too much with the age-level teams, but if I am not wrong I coached the Under-15 team in a triangular series in Sri Lanka in 2004 and we won the tournament. In the 2012 ICC Under-19 World Cup in Australia I was a coach and our performance was not too bad. Under my coaching, Bangladesh won its first ever gold in the 2010 Asian Games and SAFF Games,” Imran recollected from his rich coaching career.
But to him these are only the mere facts. What brings him more satisfaction is when he finds any of his students doing well at the highest level.
“When you work with someone and see him at the highest level, nothing can be more enjoyable for a coach. It's a great feeling that, except Mashrafe [Bin Mortaza], I worked with almost all the top pace bowlers.
“You know I picked up Mustafizur Rahman for Abahani and dropped an established bowler like Al-Amin Hossain to pave the way for him and he was brilliant to claim five wickets on debut. These are the things which please me most,” he added.
Imran said that another thing which he loves is to learn new coaching skills.
“I am not expert on everything, so I am trying to learn new techniques. Once in my early coaching career I wanted to believe that I knew everything, but now I read many things to learn new skills.”
However at this moment he is only focusing on his latest job.
“I am really impressed with the dedication and hard work of the girls and I am sure they will go far.”
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