Bangladesh women’s team pacer Marufa Akter was confident that her team can carry the momentum from the comprehensive win over Ireland in the first WODI and seal the three-match series in the second game, set to take place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday.

Marufa claimed 4 for 29 against India at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on July 26 to help the hosts seal a 40-run win

Bangladesh women’s cricket team pacer, Marufa Akter, was a breakout cricketer in the previous year and her impressive efforts saw her making it among the nominees for the ICC Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year award, revealed by the global cricket’s governing body on Wednesday. 

Bangladesh pacer Marufa Akter and leg-spinner Rabeya Khan were included in the auction list of the upcoming Women’s Indian Premier League (WIPL) next year.

Marufa Akter has emerged as the new sensation in Bangladesh women’s cricket team. The youngster from Nilphamari was instrumental behind the Tigresses’ maiden ODI win against India, picking up four wickets in the opening match of the three-match series recently. The 18-year-old pacer then held her nerve to defend three runs in the final over in the final ODI as Bangladesh tied the game and drew the series 1-1. Marufa spoke in detail to The Daily Star’s Mazhar Uddin, opening up about her bowling, life, future plans among many other topics during an exclusive interview, the excerpts of which are as follows:

After leading her side to a historic achievement against a strong India in their recent white-ball series at home, Bangladesh women’s cricket team skipper Nigar Sultana Joty spoke to Mazhar Uddin of The Daily Star, sharing her plans, the areas Bangladesh need to improve, and how the women’s cricket in the country could move forward. Here are the excerpts from the interview:  

Bangladesh Women’s cricket team pacer Marufa Akter passed the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations with a GPA of 4.06.

Bangladesh women’s cricket team’s latest sensation Marufa Akter’s strenuous journey to the country’s national team had her save tiffin money to buy tennis balls to play cricket, her mother Morzina Begum revealed on Sunday.

Certain life stories, however, remain beyond the scope of films or novels. Such one story revolves around Marufa.  

Growing up in rural Bangladesh, Marufa had to fight for the opportunity to play cricket, and then moving to the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan, the national sports institute, she began to believe. 

The Bangladesh v Australia match will get underway at 11:00pm and will be telecast live on GTV and Star Sports Network.

Bangladesh produced a clinical display to stun defending champions Australia in a seven-wicket win in their opening fixture of the ICC Women's U-19 T20 World Cup at Willowmoore Park, Benoni on Saturday.

Marufa Akter, the new face of Bangladesh women's cricket team, appears to be a star in the making.