Bangladesh's coach is eminently qualified

Imran Sarwar, a burly and swarthy individual seemed as keen as mustard to share his thoughts on the current state of Bangladesh cricket. Having played for 20 years in the Dhaka league, Sarwar has been in regular touch with domestic cricket, which puts him at a vantage point to diagnose the pulse of the game in this country.

Sarwar is a firm believer in a coach having the right set of credentials to go about his job. Unlike some of his predecessors who have been big names in their own right but without a systematic method in their training regimen, Sarwar has a qualified coaching diploma, having spent a year at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala from 1983-84. Now the NIS may not have the infrastructure like some of its cousins in Australia but it offers a scientific and comprehensive course running through a year and Sarwar who was a mere stripling at 23 when he attended it, combined the dual roles of player and coach subsequently.

He was a pretty competent player in his days and still holds a record for the best bowling analysis in the League with figures of 8-10, this remember in a one-day match. Talking about the structure of domestic cricket in Bangladesh, he said the Dhaka Premier League has been running since 1974 and was by far the most popular tournament in the country, attracting marquee names like Wasim Akram, Ajay Jadeja, Sunil Joshi, Sanath Jayasuriya, Arjuna Ranatunga, Ejaz Ahmed and even the unlikely figure of Neil Fairbrother. Thus the top Bangladeshi players have honed their one day expertise for quite a while now but they are still relative greenhorns in the longer version of the game and it is here that they to learn the virtues of application. The National League, a three day first class competition is only a season old, with Chittagong having won in the maiden edition.

Sarwar has built up a reputation as a competent coach as well, having coached Abahani to victory in three of the last four seasons in the Dhaka league. He recalled having spoken to Raman Lamba just before the latter embarked onto the field to receive his fatal injury. Indeed Sarwar and Lamba had a conversation in the dressing room on the effect of age on one's fitness levels and Sarwar suggested that Lamba at 38 did not have the same quick reflexes as in his youth and should not take too much upon himself in the field. "We'll talk later", said Lamba but that moment never came! Sarwar also poignantly retold how the wicketkeeper in that match Khaled Mashud Pilot, the current national keeper, had advised Lamba to wear a helmet but the latter was too keen to get on with the game and did not heed the warning.