In the heart of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifier in Nepal, 23-year-old Bangladeshi middle-order batter Sobhana Mostary impressed as the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer with 229 runs at a blistering strike rate of 145.85 and an average of 45.80 across six innings, including a half-century.
Her fireworks fueled Bangladesh’s perfect record, 8 points from 4 wins, topping the table under skipper Nigar Sultana Joty and securing their spot in the 10th edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales from June 12 to July 5, 2026.
“Personally, I am very happy,” Mostary told in an exclusive to Vishal Yadav for Female Cricket. “Before coming here, we had a domestic tournament in Bangladesh where I was the leading run-scorer for my team and the tournament, and my team won the championship. That confidence worked here.” Her maturity shines through.
“In the last one or two years, I focused on shot selection and timing, implementing learnings from practice. Now, when I walk out to bat, I see what the bowler is doing, cut shot for balls outside off, defensive for those in the stumps.”
Sobhana Mostary’s international journey began humbly with an ODI debut against South Africa in Bloemfontein on May 14, 2018, where she faced the fearsome Shabnim Ismail at No. 7 or 8. “It was very difficult, but interesting,” she recalls proudly, sharing the tale with young girls back home. In ODIs, she has amassed 436 runs in 26 innings at a strike rate of 65.96 and an average of 22.94, including two half-centuries over 30 matches. Her T20I record boasts 815 runs in 47 innings at a 95.88 strike rate and 18.95 average, with a half-century in 53 games.
Her breakout shone at the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 in India, where she was Bangladesh’s second-highest scorer with 195 runs at a 75 strike rate and 39 average in seven innings, including two fifties. Despite near-upsets against Sri Lanka (lost by 7 runs), England (lost by 4 wickets), and South Africa (lost by 3 wickets), and a washed-out against India to conclude their campaign.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s India, who clinched their maiden senior ICC title under the guidance of head coach Amol Muzumdar, with a win against Laura Wolvaardt’s South Africa by 52 runs at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, on November 2, Bangladesh fought fiercely. “Against England, two catches were not out; we could’ve won,” Mostary reflects. “We weren’t demotivated, we were motivated by the fight.”
From Rangpur’s dusty grounds, where she played with boys at age six or seven, mixing cricket, football, and badminton, Mostary’s path demanded sacrifice. At 10, as her parents’ only child, she left home 300 km away for BKSP in Dhaka. “It was my struggling phase, washing clothes, making beds, dressing up alone,” she says.
“Lots of sacrifices shaped me.” Idols like Harmanpreet Kaur (“her aggression and captaincy”) and Laura Wolvaardt (“her cover drive; she’s frank and shares experience”) inspire her. In qualifiers, knocks like 47 off 23 against Scotland highlight her clarity: “I play to the merit of the ball.”
With the World Cup only days away, Mostary eyes rehab for a knee niggle, a home series against Sri Lanka, and sustained rhythm. “This time, we’ve hit 150-plus every match, a big improvement,” she notes of Bangladesh’s seventh T20 World Cup appearance. Proudest? “Representing Bangladesh as a girl from the North, where few play.” Her advice to aspiring batters: “Aim to play for the country, do hard work. Batters struggle 2-6 years, stay mentally strong.”
As Bangladesh chase a flawless qualifiers finale, Mostary embodies their roar, ready to roar louder in England.
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