Bangladesh Cricket Board part ways with Hashan Tillakaratne; appoints new head coach for Women’s team

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has named Sarwar Imran as the head coach of the women’s national team, replacing Hashan Tillakaratne.

A strategic move for Bangladesh women’s cricket

His appointment comes at a crucial time, with Bangladesh preparing for the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2025. Imran, a veteran coach with extensive experience, is expected to bring stability and tactical depth to the squad. Imran previously served as Bangladesh’s men’s team head coach during their inaugural Test match in 2000. His coaching tenure spans several decades, including roles with Bangladesh A, the National Cricket Academy, and most recently, the U-19 women’s squad at the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia. His ability to develop young talent and implement strategic game plans will be vital as Bangladesh seeks to secure a spot in the upcoming World Cup.

BCB prioritizes local talent as head coach

BCB president Faruque officially confirmed the appointment of Sarwar as the head coach of the national women’s team, filling the vacancy left by Hasan’s departure. He further emphasized the board’s commitment to nurturing local coaching talent.

“We have decided to appoint Imran (Sarwar) as our national women’s team head coach after the post went vacant following the departure of Hasan. When I took over, I promised that I would try my level best to provide a platform for local coaches in the national setup, and the appointment of Imran is part of that pledge. What I feel is that if we don’t give them the responsibility, how can we know whether they are performing or not,” Faruque was quoted as saying by the Cricbuzz.

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Bangladesh’s qualification challenge for the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup

Bangladesh narrowly missed automatic qualification for the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, finishing level on 21 points with New Zealand in the ICC Women’s Championship standings. However, New Zealand secured the final direct entry due to having more wins (nine compared to Bangladesh’s eight). A disheartening eight-wicket defeat against the West Indies in the series decider forced Bangladesh into the qualifiers.

With India, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka already qualified, Bangladesh must compete in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier against West Indies, Pakistan, Ireland, Scotland and Thailand. Only the top two teams will advance to the main event, set to be held in India later this year.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.