Come the 2010s, the cricketing fraternity has witnessed the Bangladeshi bound contingent transform drastically towards improving the quality of cricket brewing in their nation. For several years theyβve been unanimously referred to as βunder dogsβ in major ICC tournaments. But that label has been long gone, thanks to the new brand of cricket theyβve inculcated.
On the 28th of May, top performing Bangladeshi sportspersons received their tokens of appreciation for a spectacular display of skill and commitment towards their nation at the Bangladesh Sports Press Association (BSPA), the traditional organization for sports journalists and sports writers in the country.
π Nigar Sultana Joty was awarded the ππ¨π¦ππ§’π¬ ππ«π’ππ€ππππ« π¨π ππ‘π ππππ« at Bangladesh Sports Press Association (BSPA) Sports Awards 2022.#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/8DErz5XAYx
β Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) May 29, 2023
A few cricketing names made headlines as Litton Das won the Sportsperson of the Year Award and Nigar Sultana Joty bagged the Womenβs Cricketer of the Year Award.
25-year-old Sultana is a fluent right-handed batter and a formidable force behind the wickets in the form of a keeper. The young prodigy hailing from the Sherpur District bats in the middle order and has made several noteworthy contributions in winning causes. She accounts for runs in excess of 2000 coming off her blade on the international stage at an average that is progressively getting better by the day.
Most recently, Bangladesh toured Sri Lanka and Sultana broke the shackles a couple of times in the series to power her side to respectable scores. Her highest score in the series came in Colombo where she bundled 75*(51) in the 1st T20I. Although Bangladesh lost the series 2-1, Sultanaβs form was a big positive from the tour. Indian bowlers will look to do their homework against the Bangladesh skipper and become less susceptible in the upcoming series by hitting the right lengths and areas.
She has also been a great leader for Bangladesh in the T20Iβs. In her short stint as the skipper, Sultana has a win % of 45.83 which she would like to better in the upcoming series against India. Harmanpreet and Co. will keep a keen eye on Bangladeshi skippers’ tactics as they venture into Sultanaβs territory in June and try to capitalize on an easy opportunity.
In the ICC Womenβs T20 World Cup 2020 held in Australia, she top-scored for Bangladesh with 114 runs in 4 innings. Following which she went on to lead the national side in the 2021 Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe, the 2022 Commonwealth Games Cricket Qualifier tournament in Malaysia, and the 2022 Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.
Sultana will look to keep up with the fame sheβs earned and stride towards excellence ensuring the womenβs team set higher standards in the years to come.
