Bangladesh batter Sobhana Mostary has turned around a difficult start to her international career, with recent ICC events underlining her growing consistency and attacking intent. Bangladesh booked qualification for this year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in dominant fashion, going unbeaten across seven matches at the Qualifier in Nepal, with Mostary finishing as the tournament’s second-highest run-getter. In an exclusive interview with The Daily Star’s Abdullah Al Mehdi, she reflects on her early struggles, the factors behind her improvement, and more. Excerpts follow:
The Daily Star (DS): Early in your career, there was criticism around your lack of big scores and questions over your place in the team. How challenging was that phase mentally, and what kept you going?
Sobhana Mostary (SM): I admit that the start of my career was not what I, the people around me, or the cricket board had expected. It was a very difficult time… I realised that if I wanted to change my life, I had to change myself. Even though the achievements weren’t huge, playing against big teams helped me get accustomed to scoring runs.
DS: It took you quite a few innings to cross the 50-run mark. Was that a skill gap or a lack of confidence?
SM: I made my debut in 2018, and we were playing more T20s at that time. If you look at my first 20 innings, I batted at number six or seven. I wasn’t accustomed to going in and playing big shots immediately. I decided that if I could bat higher up the order and face more balls, I could change my game. I spoke to the management, they agreed, and slowly the runs started coming. Even now, I feel I don’t have a fixed position in the batting order, and at the beginning that’s how 15–20 games went by.
DS: How do you evaluate the team’s performance in the World Cup Qualifiers?
SM: As a batting unit, we used to struggle to cross 110 runs even on good wickets, but this time we consistently scored 150-plus. This gave our bowlers mental peace to bowl freely… and our fielding is always good. Batting was the concern, and we managed to do well there.
DS: Your coaches have described you as the team’s most improved batter.
SM: I am grateful to the management and especially my captain, [Nigar Sultana] Joty apu. She had to answer many questions about me but never spoke negatively. My batting coach, Nasiruddin Faruque, always told me my net batting was top-class and that I just needed to catch the international momentum. He contributed significantly to where I am today. I am thankful they never demotivated me. Sometimes getting dropped is good because it makes you realise what you need to focus on.
DS: What do you see as the biggest factors behind your recent consistency at the international level?
SM: Fitness is a factor, but the main difference is adapting to international intensity. I worked on maintaining my temperament and focus after crossing 35–40 runs. We are used to scoring in domestic cricket, but internationally I struggled to figure out how to carry my innings after scoring 30 or 40 runs due to fatigue or poor decision-making. I worked on maintaining my temperament and focus after crossing 35–40 runs.
In the past, when I had to hit immediately, my fitness wasn’t where it needed to be; shots that used to travel 60 yards and get caught are now going 80 yards for sixes. Our physio told me that if I worked on my fitness, those shots would eventually clear the rope. I focused on improving my fitness, and now, by the grace of Allah, 80 per cent of my shots connect well.
Practising patience against big teams like England and Australia in the last World Cup also gave me the confidence to hold the innings together.
I read an article about Rohit Sharma having a tough start to his career, but he ended up becoming a legend and winning the World Cup. I want my career to finish beautifully like his.
DS: Who have been your batting inspirations over the years?
SM: I follow South African captain Laura Wolvaardt. My childhood idol is Harmanpreet Kaur because I like her long-handle batting style, which I also use. At a younger age, I liked Tamim Iqbal. When I was nine, I once cried for a week because my father bought me an SS bat instead of a CA bat, which Tamim bhai was using. My father then got me the CA bat after a week.
DS: Finally, how did you react to the Bangladesh men’s team missing out on the T20 World Cup?
SM: I was hopeful they would be able to go. I remember going to the Australia World Cup when I was young, and it was the best time of my life. Every player dreams of playing in the World Cup, so missing it is very hard to accept, but we have to accept the reality.
