SALMA KHATUN THE CRICKETING WONDER

Earlier this year, the International Cricket Council announced that Salma topped the ICC T20 all-rounder rankings with 291 rating points, clearly four points ahead of Sri Lanka's Shashikala Siriwardene. She is also ranked as the number one T20 bowler in the ICC Player Rankings

Despite the lack of public and media attention, the Bangladesh National Women's Cricket Team continue to make us proud in the international arena. The team had a victorious international debut when they won two matches against Thailand in a series played in July 2007. They then went on to compete against China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand and the UAE to win the ACC Women's Cricket Tournament in the same year of their international debut. Within a span of four years, the team was granted the one-day status in 2011, after beating the United States and finishing fifth in the same year in Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier. Salma Khatun has been at the helm of these successes as the captain of the team since 2008.

Salma says that even though the country is finally recognising the Women's Cricket Team for their contributions, there are still obstacles that need to be overcome. While the men's cricket team is probably getting 100 percent in terms of support or resources, the women's team is receiving around 60 to 70 percent of the same, she says. The men's team is given preference in terms of practice sessions and timings, she adds. Even when a specific time and space is allocated for the women's team, if the men's team needs the space for an emergency practice session, it will be allocated to them.

Salma, however, says that such compromises are not that big a deal. “We really don't have too many complaints. Even the Prime Minister pledged to improve our facilities and resources, and that gives us hope.”