Former Bangladesh Opener Nafees Iqbal Hospitalized

Former Bangladesh opener and currently the team’s logistics manager, Nafees Iqbal, is undergoing treatment at Bangladesh Specialized Hospital. Nafees had been experiencing severe headaches for several days. Today (July 5), his condition worsened, and he was airlifted from Chittagong to Dhaka. Although he is currently out of danger, he will remain in intensive care for several days.

Nafees Iqbal has a blood clot in his brain. He had been suffering from headaches for the past few days, but today his condition deteriorated (brain hemorrhage), and he was taken to a local hospital. A preliminary scan revealed some form of cerebral hemorrhage, after which he was transferred to Bangladesh Specialized Hospital in Dhaka.

Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) chief physician, Debashish Chowdhury, provided the latest update on Nafees Iqbal's condition from Bangladesh Specialized Hospital:

“Specialist doctors have confirmed that he is suffering from a condition known as cerebral venous thrombosis, which means there is a blood clot in the venous part of his brain. He is currently stable. All the parameters being monitored are good. The doctors here are hopeful that this issue can be resolved through conservative management. He will be kept here for a few more days and treated conservatively.”

According to the specialists, if the condition does not worsen, it is entirely possible for him to make a full recovery. In such cases, the first day is crucial for observation. He will need to stay in the HDU unit tonight. If his condition improves tomorrow, he will be moved to the ward. He is likely to remain under observation for several weeks.

Nafees Iqbal was with the Bangladesh team in the United States and the West Indies during the T20 World Cup, handling the responsibilities of a logistics manager. After returning to the country, he was staying at his home in Chittagong.

Nafees Iqbal has played 11 Tests and 16 ODIs for Bangladesh. The 39-year-old scored four fifties and one century in international cricket. Additionally, he has played 120 first-class matches, 112 List A matches, and six recognized T20s, scoring 6,202, 2,754, and 56 runs, respectively. In his professional career, he has amassed 12 centuries and 52 fifties.