From badminton to cricket
Most cricketers usually dream of playing cricket on the biggest stage due to their admiration for someone who has excelled in the sport.
It is also usual to see a cricketer discovered by some local or international coach after an excellent display in a local tournament. However, Bangladesh opener Sharmin Akhter's cricketing journey is different as the right-handed batter's cricketing ability was first noticed by a local coach when she was playing a different sport.
"I once participated in a local badminton tournament when I was in the seventh or eighth grade. A lot of people, including some local cricket coaches, also used to come and watch those tournaments. One such coach, Bablu bhai, after seeing me play asked me, "You seem to have good strength in your hands. Would you like to play cricket?"
I agreed and started going to the stadium to practise. But after practising cricket for a few days with the boys, I kind of lost interest," said Sharmin, who hails from Gaibandha.
Having come to cricket from a different sport, Sharmin's interest for the game was yet to grow. That was soon to change as Sharmin recalled the time she was first fascinated by the cricket.
"In 2008, I went for a trial at the BKSP in Savar after coming to know about it from Bablu bhai. Just as I entered the BKSP premises, I saw a number of girls and boys, wearing white jerseys, divided into two teams and playing cricket. I found the environment to be very appealing and that is when I decided that I have to get admitted here," said the 24-year-old.
Sharmin had impressed during the trial and got herself admitted at the BKSP in 2008. But she still had a long way to go. And according to her, it was the environment in BKSP that made her realise that she too can make it big and take up cricket as a profession.
"Rashed sir in BKSP taught me everything about cricket. It was Rashed sir who had instilled in me the idea that cricket can be taken up as a profession and can be a way of achieving greatness in life.
"Actually, BKSP was the basic foundation of my cricketing career. I don't think I would have made it this far had it not been for BKSP. I think BKSP's environment, discipline and lifestyle is ideal for a girl to become a cricketer," explained Sharmin, who now only hopes to get back to the field as soon as possible and contribute for the country.
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