Triumphant Tigresses return
A collective approach from all the Bangladesh national women's cricket team members is the reason behind their recent success, allowing the Tigresses to start believing in their strengths.
The women's team no longer relies on one or two individual's to perform as almost all of the players now know the specific roles they have to play, a fact which has worked out well since their Asia Cup triumph in June.
The Tigresses continued to brim with self confidence, which helped them secure a spot for the upcoming ICC Women's World T20 in West Indies by becoming the undefeated champions of the tournament's qualifiers.
Salma Khatun and her troops returned home yesterday and were welcomed by another warm reception at the airport after their successful campaign in the three match T20I series against Ireland, which they won 2-1, followed by a qualifier win in the Netherlands.
The Tigresses also reached quite a few individual milestones as leg-spinner Fahima Khatun became the first Bangladeshi woman to pick up a hattrick in T20Is against the UAE in another qualifier.
The 25-year-old remained the joint-third highest wicket-taker in the qualification tournament alongside Panna Ghosh with nine scalps while fellow leg-spinner Rumana Ahmed bagged ten wickets at a miserly economy of three runs per over to grab second place, just behind Ireland's Lucy O' Reilly who picked up eleven wickets.
According to Fahima, the women's team is benefitted by having two leg-spinners in the squad as opposed to the men's team, who are still in search of even a single leg-spinner.
"Actually the men's team is definitely missing a leg-spinner in the side while on the other hand we are lucky to have two leg-spinners, both of whom are performing well and getting success. And not only as a woman, I became the first Bangladeshi to pick up a hattrick in T20Is," a jubilant Fahima told reporters at the Hazrat Shahjalal International airport yesterday.
Fahima, who idolises Australian spin legend Shane Warne, also informed that working with the coaches during her lean patch helped her gain confidence.
On the other hand experienced pacer Panna, who became the second Bangladeshi after Jahanara Alom to pick up a five-wicket haul in T20Is, was happier to merely contribute rather than achieve any personal milestone.
"I never bowl to pick five wickets or even taking wickets rather I focus more on my line and length. If I am able to do so, the opposition batters will look to charge and give the wicket and if we are able to continue that, we will be successful," said Panna.
The 28-year old also added that batting, which has been the Tigresses' biggest area of concern, has improved significantly. The likes of Shamima Sultana, Ayasha Rahman, Nigar Sultana and Fargana Haque have performed better than ever during the recent past and are surely another reason behind the team's success.
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