Sobhana Mostary Aims to Lift Bangladesh to Global Glory, Taking Inspiration from Harmanpreet Kaur

Sobhana Mostary: The Bright Spark in Bangladesh’s Tough World Cup Journey.

Bangladesh’s campaign at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 has been filled with grit, heartbreak, and flashes of promise. Under Nigar Sultana’s leadership, the Tigresses have pushed heavyweights like England, South Africa, and Sri Lanka to the brink but have struggled to close out games. With just one win from six matches, they sit at the bottom of the points table — yet their fight has earned respect.

Among the standout performers has been Sobhana Mostary, the 23-year-old batter who has quietly become the backbone of Bangladesh’s batting lineup. With 169 runs in six innings at an average of 42.25, she is her team’s second-highest scorer in the tournament.

Her maiden ODI fifty — a patient 60 against England — and an unbeaten 66 against Australia have showcased both her technique and temperament on the world stage. For Mostary, it has been a coming-of-age campaign.

From BKSP to the Big Stage
Mostary’s cricketing journey began early. At just ten, she joined the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP), the country’s premier sports institute that has produced stars like Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim.

“When I was ten years old, I got admission to BKSP. I used to study and play there. Then, when I was 17, I made my debut for the Bangladesh team during our tour of South Africa,” she recalled.

Before earning her international cap in 2018, she had already made waves at the Emerging Cup — scoring a match-winning 37* against South Africa. “I hit a six to win the match. That was a turning point in my career — from there, I grew a lot as a player,” she said.

Memories That Define a Journey
Bangladesh’s women’s team has had only a few euphoric highs since earning ODI status in 2011. Their Asia Cup 2018 title win over India remains the biggest triumph, but for Mostary, qualifying for the 2022 World Cup is the most cherished memory.

“For the team, my favourite memory is when we qualified for the 2022 ODI World Cup in New Zealand. I wasn’t playing that match against Pakistan but came in as a substitute fielder, took a catch near the boundary, and we won. Everyone was so happy — it was a special moment,” she said.

Learning, Growing, and Believing
Despite their current position, Bangladesh’s performances in this World Cup have reflected progress. The team has already recorded seven half-centuries, compared to just two in 2022. With bowlers like Shorna Akter, Nahida Akter, Marufa Akter, Fahima Khatun, and Rabeya Khan regularly striking in key moments, the side has shown depth and spirit.

“If you want to rate our team, in unity we’re 10 out of 10. Performance-wise, maybe six or seven — we’ve improved a lot in batting and bowling,” said Mostary.

The narrow loss to Sri Lanka still stings. Chasing 203, Bangladesh needed 12 off 12 balls with six wickets in hand but collapsed dramatically to lose by seven runs. “The last game was heartbreaking. Many of us couldn’t sleep for two days,” she admitted. “But we’ve trained hard and are confident of finishing strong against India.”

Idolizing Harmanpreet, Inspiring a Generation
Ahead of their final group match, Mostary spoke of her admiration for India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, whose 171* against Australia in 2017 inspired her to take batting seriously. “She has been my idol ever since. I watch all her matches and try to learn from her,” said Mostary, adding that Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, and Deepti Sharma are key threats Bangladesh will look to counter.

A Bright Future Beckons
Despite a tough campaign, Mostary remains upbeat about the direction of women’s cricket in Bangladesh. “There are lots of talented players now — many academies are training girls, and more players are coming through the BCB programmes. The future looks very bright,” she said with conviction.

With her fearless stroke play and calm presence at the crease, Sobhana Mostary represents the next wave of Bangladesh cricket — one built on belief, resilience, and quiet ambition. Alongside emerging talents like Shorna Akter, she is helping script a new chapter for the Tigresses — one that promises more than just near-misses.