Former Bangladesh women’s team head coach Sarowar Imran maintains he was dismissed for challenging the players to step outside their comfort zones. His tenure concluded when the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) declined to renew his contract following its expiration in October 2026, after the Asian Games. The board replaced him with David Hemp, citing concerns regarding Sarowar’s temperament as the primary reason for the change. When I needed to scold them I did that and if you say this is ill temper in that case I don’t feel Bangladesh cricket can improve,” he said. “I felt I could improve them and had seven to eight tours and everything ended. I have my own dignity and I am aware of what I am capable of and I don’t work to show off. Expressing discomfort with his approach, understands that some senior players had also complained to the board about his behaviour. The BCB, however, eventually dropped its plan to issue the notice, taking his long-standing service to Bangladesh cricket into consideration. They listen to whatever the women cricketers say and they cannot improve living in this comfort zone. One or two batters bat for the whole day and after seeing all these I started interfering.
Sarowar, who previously led the national side during their inaugural 2000 Test against India, expressed frustration over the board’s handling of his departure. He noted that the BCB failed to consult him or provide a fair opportunity to address the grievances before terminating his role. Speaking to Ekattur TV on Tuesday, November 10, he stated that his only formal notice was a letter informing him that another coach would lead the team for the Australia tour. This is all the communication I had with BCB,” Sarowar was quoted as saying by Ekattur TV on Tuesday (November 10). “As far as my ill temper is concerned when I entered the women’s team, what I saw was that there from bo.
Addressing the allegations regarding his behavior, Sarowar argued that the coaching staff had become accustomed to a permissive culture where players dictated training intensity. He observed that support staff, including batting and bowling coaches, trainers, and physios, often remained silent rather than challenging the players. “A spinner after bowling 30 deliveries tells the coach that she won’t bowl any more and the coach agrees,” Sarowar explained. He insisted that his intervention and disciplinary measures were necessary for improvement, rejecting the characterization of his leadership as ill-tempered.
The veteran coach emphasized the distinction between professional boundaries and friendship, asserting that a coach must remain objective. “A coach cannot be a friend of a player because if I am a friend of a player I cannot drop the player,” he said. He further alleged that some staff members prioritized their own job security by accommodating player demands rather than pushing for higher standards, an approach he claims has stalled the team’s development over the last five years.
A significant portion of Sarowar’s critique focused on the squad’s physical conditioning. He claimed that more than half of the first-choice eleven lack the required fitness levels for international competition. According to his assessment, most players are below average, with only a small minority meeting standard expectations. He warned that the team would never reach its goal of becoming world champions if such lackluster preparation persists, stating that fitness remains a critical obstacle.
While Sarowar refrained from confirming the existence of formal factions within the squad, he noted that the relationship dynamics were uneven. He suggested that captain Nigar Sultana did not enjoy close ties with every member of the team, indicating a fragmented environment. Despite his removal, Sarowar stands by his methods, stating he is aware of his professional capabilities and refused to compromise his standards for popularity.
