Bangladesh middle-order batter Sobhana Mostary has been named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for January, becoming only the second Bangladeshi woman cricketer to win the award, reports Daily Sun.
Sobhana beat Ireland captain Gaby Lewis and USA’s Tara Norris to secure the honour.
She joins left-arm spinner Nahida Akter, who won the award in November 2023, as the only Bangladeshi women to receive the monthly recognition.
Reacting to the award, Sobhana said she was delighted and surprised by the recognition.
“I feel very happy to have won the Player of the Month award. I was surprised to be nominated. Whatever has happened is good, but I believe I have more to achieve,” she said. “I did well here, but it will feel even better if I can perform well in the main tournament.”
Sobhana earned the accolade after an impressive run in the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier held in Nepal last month.
She played a key role in guiding Bangladesh to the main tournament in England, finishing the six-match campaign with 229 runs at an average of 45.8 and a strike rate of 145.85.
Her highest score in the qualifier came against Thailand, where she struck 59 off 42 balls, hitting nine fours and a six. She followed that with 47 against Scotland and registered three more scores above 30 in the remaining matches. Sobhana also contributed with the ball, claiming a wicket with her off-spin.
Bangladesh went unbeaten in the qualifier to book their place in the T20 World Cup, with Sobhana’s consistency in the middle-order proving decisive.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
