Shuktara becomes bright star in women cricket

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DHAKA, Sept 8, 2018 (BSS) – From her childhood, Aysha Rahman Shuktara wanted to do some different. Her father also encouraged her to do something new. Now she is well-known across the globe. She is dominating the cricket world through both batting and bowling.

Shuktara, a bright star of Bangladesh Women Cricket Team, was also good in other sports like volleyball and handball. Later, one of her school teacher advised her to play cricket. The teacher talked to her (Shuktara) parents. After talks with the teacher, Shuktara’s father encouraged her to play cricket.

He had a dream that if any women team is formed in Bangladesh, his daughter will play in that team.

Some days later, a women cricketer hunting programme began in Khulna. Shuktara and her father were so much happy hearing the news. They went there to face preliminary scrutiny. Shuktara passed this stage easily.

After passing the first stage, Shuktara took part in an open tournament. She did well there. After witnessing her batting, the selection board of the National Women Cricket Team called her to play for the national team.

Now, Shuktara is playing cricket professionally. The right-hand batsman is also enjoying the cricket. Recently, the team won at different tournaments at home and abroad. Many people say that, Khulna is the birth place of cricketers. Many superstars including Mashrafe Bin Murtaza are from Khulna.

Shuktara said, “I got inspirations from my family and my society…The women team started its journey in 2007. After beginning our journey we played many tournaments. But, we didn’t get any notable success.”

Then there was no discussion or planning for the women cricket team, she said, adding, ”But, we didn’t leave the game. We firmly believed that the team would play well sometime in future. And finally we saw the light.”

The team recently won Asia Cup title, Ireland series and the best team title for World Cup selection.

Shuktara believes that the key to the success is the firm self-confidence, concentration and hard work of all members of her team.

She said, “The selection board dropped me in the South Africa series for my bad performance. Even I was dropped by the World Cup selection board that year. After that, I did hard work to come back in the team. And finally I returned.”

She said the situation of the women cricket team is now different. “Many changes have taken place. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has changed their mindset along with developing the cricketers and the team,” she added.

About the inspiring the women cricketers, Shuktara said it is important to select the cricketers from grassroots level. “You can find many good players at the grassroots level. You can also select cricketers from women premier league or district level league,” she added.