Bangladesh’s women cricketers making good impression in foreign leagues
MD ABU TALHA SARKER, Dhaka:Although Bangladesh women cricket’s success stories in international arena are not that notable as of now, a number of players featuring in foreign leagues have earned significant feat playing a brand of good cricket thanks to their eye-catching performances of late.
The latest addition to the small list of women players plying their trade on foreign soil is Jannatul Ferdous Sumona. She has carved her name in the three-name proud list after Shaila Sharmin and Jahanara Alam.
Of the trio, Shaila went to Sri Lanka to feature in the domestic league there in 2018, while Jahanara went to India to play mini-IPL for women’s cricketers only last year.
This time, Sumona has proven herself to feature in the Sydney Cricket Club (SCC). Thanks to her all-round skills, the Australian club ended their title drought by winning the New South Wales Premier League 50-over competition.
Being deprived of the national team, Sumona flied to Australia to play their domestic cricket league. The right-handed all-rounder shared her success story as to how she got the chance of playing for SCC.
“I got an offer from SCC when I was out of the national team. Initially, they wanted to know about my interest in playing for Australia’s domestic cricket. There was off-season going on in Bangladesh domestic cricket when I got their offer. I didn’t hesitate taking my final decision as I wasn’t getting an opportunity from the national circuit,” said Sumona.
According to her, “I went to play there in October 2019 although the offer came to me at the beginning of 2019. There were some delays due to visa complications. Along with that, my HSC examinations were also going on. The Australian cricket season starts in September-October, luckily I was able to avail of the opportunity.”
At the SCC, she had famous cricketers playing alongside her in the team and the tournament. She was also one of the dominating figures behind her team’s overall success. In 12 matches, she scalped 19 wickets and scored more than 200 runs, whereas she didn’t get even the chance to bowl for the national team and eventually got dropped only after a few matches.
“It’s one of the best clubs in Australia. Four players from national team play there. In addition, many Australian players come up from this club, many former national team cricketers also played for this club. Currently, we’ve four national team players, including Alyssa Healy, Rachael Haynes, Jenny Gunn and me. This year, our team has become the champions for the first time,” she enthused.
“I’m basically an off-spinning all-rounder. Although I played in the national team, I didn’t get a chance to bowl. After batting in two matches, I was dropped from the national team. I’ve some regrets about this though. I couldn’t do my real job. At the SCC this season, I was in the top 10 as a bowler throughout the tournament. I’m the third-highest scorer in my team, where I scored 200-plus runs in 12 matches only,” added Sumona.
Despite missing the chance of representing her country in the international level, Sumona is happy playing for SCC and also praised their hospitality saying that the club is now her new family.
“I’m just happy to be here. As a foreign cricketer, I’m given a lot of dignity like others. Our coaches and managers are always caring. All in all, SCC is my new family. I’m fine with this family. Yet sometimes, I feel bad. I really miss playing on the field in national jersey,” she quipped.
The 20-year-old all-rounder made her international debut against South Africa in Potchefstroom back in March 2018. But her international career came to a halt after playing just two ODIs and a T20I during the tour. However, she was not seen with the ball in any of the three matches.
Although Sumona was called in the national team during the tour of Ireland in August 2016, she had to wait about two years for her debut.
Being familiar with the condition, she wanted to be a part of the Bangladesh team in the 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, but the team management didn’t pay any attention to her plea. Still, she nourishes the dream of playing in the red-green jersey.
According to the spinning all-rounder, “I’m always ready and will join as soon as possible if the call comes from the national team. There is nothing more to feel proud of than playing for the national team.”
