Former Bangladesh batter Nafees Iqbal suffers brain hemorrhage; kept under observation in a Dhaka hospital
Former Bangladesh batter Nafees Iqbal, Tamim Iqbal's elder brother, suffered a brain hemorrhage and has been kept under observation in a Dhaka hospital. According to reports from ESPNcricinfo, the 39-year-old was brought to Dhaka in an air ambulance on Friday afternoon (July 5) and is in the High Dependency Unit (HDU).
Nafees worked as Bangladesh's logistical manager in the recently concluded T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA. However, he reportedly complained of severe headaches over the last few days leading up to the bleeding.
Yet, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) physician Debashis Chowdhury confirmed to reporters outside the hospital that Nafees is out of any severe danger.
"Specialists have informed us that Nafees is suffering from something called cerebral venous thrombosis. He has blood clots in that part of his brain. He is now stable. His parameters are good. He will be here for a few more days. They have said that if it doesn't get worse, he will make full recovery. He has to be observed closely on the first day. He might be shifted to a ward soon, but these things take a few weeks," said Chowdhury.
Several star players - Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mashrafe Mortaza - reportedly visited Nafees in the hospital.
Besides Tamim Iqbal's elder brother, Nafees is the former captain and current BCB director Akram Khan's nephew. He has been Bangladesh's logistical manager for the past two years.
Nafees Iqbal played for Bangladesh in the early to mid-2000s
Nafees Iqbal was part of the Bangladesh setup as a player in the early to mid-2000s in Tests and ODIs. The now-39-year-old debuted for the side in an ODI against England in 2003.
The right-handed batter also played his maiden Test the following year at home against New Zealand. Yet, Nafees played only two years each of Tests and ODIs, featuring in his final game for Bangladesh in 2006.
He played 16 ODIs and 11 Tests for Bangladesh, scoring 827 runs with a century and four half-centuries.
Nafees enjoyed a tremendous domestic career, scoring 6,202 first-class and 2,754 List-A runs with 12 centuries. His lone international century came in a home Test against Zimbabwe in 2005.