Bangladesh’s rising star Sobhana Mostary has been named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for January 2026 following her impressive series of match winning performances in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier.
The 24-year-old right-hand batter, who also bowls right-arm off-break, had a great significance in Bangladesh’s unbeaten campaign and qualification to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup later this year. Mostary’s consistent and attacking style of play with the bat was what made her stand out during the tournament, the other nominees for the January title were Ireland skipper Gaby Lewis and USA pacer Tara Norris.
Sobhana Mostary was the backbone of Bangladesh’s middle-order, exhibiting elegance and aggression throughout the tournament with the bat. In her first six games, Mostary scored 229 runs at an average of 45.80 and a strike rate of 145.85, which showed her consistency and aggression with the bat. Her best knock was in the crucial match against Thailand, where she scored an authoritative 59 to guide her team to a 39-run win. The win also officially confirmed qualification for Bangladesh for the ICC T20 World Cup that is to be held in June and July in England and Wales.
She continued her good form with another fluent knock of 47 against Scotland that helped Bangladesh secure a 90 runs victory, thus emphasizing her ability to play consistently well in crucial matches. Apart from her performance with the bat, Mostary also proved her worth with the ball by taking a crucial wicket with her off-spin against Papua New Guinea. She was the heartbeat of the Bangladesh batting lineup due to her calmness and ability to anchor the innings at a good strike rate.
While Bangladesh’s dominance in the qualifier was the result of a combined effort, Mostary was one of the X-factors of their success story. With Bangladesh becoming one of the first teams to secure their spot to the T20 World Cup in England and Wales, Mostary will provide the country with immense confidence based on her current form and would like to carry the momentum to the global tournament.
Sobhana Mostary, at just 24, has already proved that she is mature beyond her years, and this ICC award not only reflects her outstanding performance this January but also her growing stature as a cricketer in international women’s cricket.
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