Renowned cricket coach and cricket writer Jalal Ahmed Chowdhury breathed his last on Tuesday at the Anwer Khan Modern Hospital in the city after battling with lung infection and respiratory problem. He was 74.
Dubbed as the lighthouse of Bangladesh cricket, the former national team coach Jalal Chowdhury, was admitted at the hospital on September 15 and later put on ventilator three days ago. He passed away at around 11:05am today.
“We lost our guardian,” former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, MP, said immediately after the passing away of the respected coach.
“It is very difficult to see the death of who was my mentor at the start of my career. Sir, playing under you, your advice, your revulsion in the dressing room, your writing, all these things have become a memory now. Those who have seen your contribution to Bangladesh cricket will remember you forever,” a dejected Mashrafe wrote on his facebook, paying a rich tribute to his mentor.
“You will be fine on the other side, sir.” As a cricket player, Jalal Ahmed Chowdhury started in the Dhaka League for Udity Club in the mid-1960s. An opening batsman and wicketkeeper, he went on to play for Young Pegasus, Town Club and Dhanmondi Club and represented Bangladesh Railway in the National Championship competition. He was a member of the first Bangladesh side in post-independence Bangladesh (Tour of MCC in 1977).
He received his diploma in cricket coaching from the National Institute of Sports in Patiala, India in 1979 and subsequently coached prominent Dhaka League teams Abahani, Mohammedan, Victoria, ShadharanBima, Azad Sporting, PWD, Dhanmondi Club and Kalabagan.
In his distinguished coaching career, Jalal Ahmed Chowdhury had been associated with the Bangladesh National Team on a number of occasions. He was one of the coaches of the Bangladesh 1979 and 1997 ICC Trophy squads. He was the Head Coach of Bangladesh in the ICC U19 World Cup in 2002.
Jalal Ahmed Chowdhury had also served the BCB as a member of its different standing committees which include Game Development, Cricket Operations and the Umpires Committee.
As the veteran coach and writer’s death left people in a dejected state, State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell led the mourning.
He has expressed deep grief over the death of the renowned coach.
In his condolence message, the state minister said, “Jalal Ahmed Chowdhury is a renowned cricket coach of Bangladesh. He played cricket in the 70’s and 80’s. He was the mentor of many top cricketers of Bangladesh.
He has also served in the game development department of the BCB. He has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of cricket in the country. He was not only a cricketer or cricket coach, but also a successful sports organizer, coach, umpire, sports journalist and well-known sports writer. His death is an irreparable loss to the country's sports arena.”
