Bangladesh’s marketing campaign within the ICC Girls’s Cricket World Cup 2025 has been a roller-coaster experience, because the Nigar Sultana-led aspect has endured a string of heartbreaking defeats. Regardless of intently contested matches towards England, South Africa, and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh have struggled to cross the ending line and at the moment discover themselves on the backside of the factors desk, with only one win from six matches.
Among the many a number of gamers who’ve made Bangladesh a aggressive outfit within the ongoing event, batter Sobhana Mostary has stood out together with her consistency. She has amassed 169 runs from six innings — the second-highest for her group — at a median of 42.25.
Keep up to date for full protection of Girls’s World Cup 2025 with India Immediately! get full schedule, group squads, dwell ratingand the up to date ICC girls’s world cup factors desk,
The 23-year-old performed two essential innings: a composed 60 off 108 balls towards England, her maiden ODI half-century, and an unbeaten 66 off 80 towards Australia. Mostary couldn’t have chosen a grander stage to announce herself, as she showcased her expertise on the world stage.
The seeds of Mostary’s success have been sown early. On the age of ten, she joined certainly one of Bangladesh’s premier sports activities institutes — the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) — which has produced worldwide gamers equivalent to Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Litton Das.
“Once I was ten years outdated, I received admission to BKSP, a sports activities institute in our nation. I used to be in Class 5 on the time. I used to check and play there. Then, once I was 17, I made my debut for the Bangladesh group throughout our tour of South Africa,” Mostary advised IndiaToday.in.
THE TURNING POINT
Earlier than making her worldwide debut towards South Africa in 2018, Mostary had already made an impression within the Rising Cup, scoring a match-winning 37 not out towards the identical opposition — a second she describes because the turning level of her profession.
“My favourite reminiscence is from 2018, once I went to South Africa for the Rising Cup. I performed an ODI sport towards South Africa, whose group had some prime gamers, together with captain Nadin de Klerk. I scored 37 not out and hit a six to win the match. That was a turning level in my profession — from there, I grew so much as a participant,” she recalled.
2022 WORLD CUP MEMORY
Within the 18-year historical past of Bangladesh girls’s cricket, there have been solely a handful of euphoric moments. The group earned official ODI standing in 2011 after ending fifth within the ICC Girls’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier. Their first look at an ICC occasion got here in 2014, after they certified as hosts for the ICC Girls’s T20 World Cup.
Nonetheless, their largest triumph so far got here on the Asia Cup 2018, after they shocked India with a three-wicket victory within the ultimate held in Kuala Lumpur.
For mostary, although, it’s the group’s qualification for the 2022 Girls’s World Cup that holds a particular place in her coronary heart. Bangladesh additionally registered their maiden World Cup win throughout that marketing campaign, defeating Pakistan.
“For the group, my favourite reminiscence is after we certified for the 2022 ODI World Cup in New Zealand. We certified on 27 November, and that day was a really comfortable second for all of us. I wasn’t enjoying that match towards Pakistan; I used to be the twelfth participant. However throughout Pakistan’s innings, (Fariha) Trisna received injured, so I got here on instead fielder. I took a catch close to the boundary, and we gained the match. Everybody was so comfortable — it was a particular second for the group,” reminisced Mostary.
Regardless of registering only one win within the present event, Bangladesh have carried out admirably, pushing prime sides equivalent to England, South Africa, and Sri Lanka to the restrict. Their match towards England might even have gone their approach had it not been for 4 reprieves given to Heather Knight by the third umpire.
Reflecting on their marketing campaign, Mostary famous that the group has improved considerably since 2022 — significantly with the bat, the place they’ve collectively recorded seven half-centuries in comparison with simply two within the earlier version.
With the ball, Shorna Akter, Nahida Akter, Marufa Akter, Fahima Khatun and Rabeya Khan have all impressed, usually sparking batting collapses. Whereas Marufa has rattled opponents together with her sharp inswingers to right-handers, the spinners have constantly tightened the screws through the center overs.
“If you wish to charge our group, in unity we’re 10 out of 10, however performance-wise, we have improved so much, particularly in batting and bowling. Within the final World Cup, we scored solely two half-centuries, however on this one, we have already scored seven. So I might charge us round six or seven out of 10. We’re performing nicely on this event,” mentioned Mostary.
Regardless of her optimism, Mostary admitted that the group was left shattered after their dramatic loss to Sri Lanka. Chasing 203, Bangladesh appeared on the right track for victory, needing simply 12 runs off as many balls with six wickets in hand. Nonetheless, a gorgeous collapse noticed them lose 4 wickets for simply 5 runs, falling quick by seven runs.
“The final sport was heartbreaking. If we had gained, everybody would have been very comfortable. After the Sri Lanka match, many people could not sleep for 2 days. However now we have skilled arduous over the previous month, specializing in our course of — bowling, fielding, and batting. We’re assured we are able to do nicely towards India and end sturdy,” she mentioned.
As Bangladesh put together to face India of their ultimate group-stage fixture, Mostary expressed her admiration for India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, recalling her iconic 171-run innings towards Australia within the 2017 World Cup. semi-final. She additionally recognized Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal as key threats within the upcoming contest.
HARMANPREET KAUR MY IDOL
“Sure, my favourite participant is Harmanpreet Kaur. When she scored 171 towards Australia in 2017, I began following her, and since then, she has been my idol. I watch all her matches and attempt to study from her. Amongst batters, Smriti Mandhana and opener Pratika Rawal are each very harmful gamers. In bowling, Deepti Sharma is an enormous risk,” mentioned Mostary.
As Bangladesh shut their World Cup marketing campaign towards India, Mostary stays optimistic concerning the group’s future, assured that girls’s cricket in Bangladesh is on the rise.
“Sure, now in Bangladesh there are many proficient gamers — each bowlers and batters. Many academies and institutes are serving to to develop girls cricketers. Extra ladies are coaching repeatedly in these academies, and extra gamers are becoming a member of the BCB programmes. So, many proficient gamers are coming by way of and performing nicely in home tournaments. The longer term seems to be very vibrant for girls’s cricket in Bangladesh,” concluded Mostary.
Mostary has been a breath of recent air for the Tigresses together with her skill to search out gaps and her fearless strategy — qualities that have been on full show towards a formidable Australian bowling assault, the place she balanced respect for the bowlers with audacious stroke play. Apart from Shorna, she represents a brand new and refreshing chapter for Bangladesh as they give the impression of being to carve out their very own identification among the many sport’s elite.
– ends