Time to honor women cricketers of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Women's cricket team make a loud sound that they are a dignified side in international arena with their historic title victory in the 7th edition Women's T20 Asia Cup 2018.

Bangladesh denied previous six-time champions India by three-wickets in the final of the six-nation continental event in a cliffhanger of last-ball thriller on a chase of 113 runs and Jahanara Alam polished the required two runs in the last balls of the game to materialise the dream come true at Kinrara Academy Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday (June 10).

Before the day Bangladesh have never tasted any title of continental or international tournament in the team-event of any sports disciplines.

This also the first time Bangladesh defeated upper-ranked India twice and denied Pakistan in a tournament as well got five successive victories.

Bangladesh started the campaign in the Women's T20 Asia Cup with a six-wicket loss against Sri Lanka in the first game of league phase, and then bounced back for four successive victories; registering seven-wicket wins each against Pakistan and India, crushed Thailand by nine wickets before Saturday's huge70-run victory against host side Malaysia for final berth as second slot holders in the points table.

Coincidentally, venues in Kuala Lumpur are lucky for Bangladesh as the Tigers got world attention with a last-ball thriller win against Kenya in a Kuala Lumpur venue Kilat Kelab ground [ renamed as Tenaga National Sports Complex] under Akram Khan's leadership.

Tigresses pulled the same attention also a win in a last ball-thriller at a venue of Kuala Lumpur city.

Even though, Bangladesh cricket man's team roaring in the international arena with dignity form the last couple of decade, having a praiseworthy number wins in bilateral series or matches, they never got any international title till date.

Bangladesh cricket man's team started the world event journey with emerging all-win champions in the World Cup Qualifier 1997 [ICC Trophy].

The men cricketers of Bangladesh earn much more higher than the women cricketer and the inequality of receiving honour or honorarium/salary drew attention of cricket fraternity, which can stun anybody.

The girls receive Tk1000 each as their domestic match fee while Tk 8000 for each international friendly from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), the 5th richest cricket board in the world.

The 'A' category Tigresses get Tk 30000 while 'C' category Tk 10, 000 as their monthly salary from the world's 5th richest board BCB.

However, BCB announced Tk 2 crore bonus for the Tigresses after the achievement of Women's T20 Asia Cup title win.

Before leaving the country for Malaysia on June 1, Bangladesh women's team captain Salma Khatun expressed her high hopes saying, "All teams are good. So do us. Of course we will try to play good cricket, if so, we can play the final. We hope to bring a good result. If the boys can, hay not us."

Rumana Ahmed, who was adjudged player of the match in the final game showing an all-round performance [23 off 22b; 1x4 with bat; 2/22 in 4 overs with ball] , had not a good bat for her own before the tour of South Africa for 5 ODIs and 3 T20Is in last month.

Rumana, the Bangladesh women's ODI side captain, was gifted a good bat by Tamim Iqbal what she used in South Africa tour and alos in Women's T20 Asia Cup.

In the final at Kinrara Academy Oval, replying to Indians post of 112/9 in 20 overs, Bangladesh shored their win with 113/7 in 20 overs.

In addition that recently the age-based girls' football teams of Bangladesh, dominated by Kalshindur school students, enthralled the nation with their achievement, clinching the title of the four-team Jockey Club Girls International Youth Invitational Football Tournament with all-win record in April --when Bangladesh's male booters' long hiatus from international tournaments-following their achievement of clinching SAFF U15 Women's Championship title beating India 1-0 at home ground in December 2017.

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