Bangladesh pacer Marufa Akter has quickly become one of the talking points of the ICC Women’s World Cup after a match-winning performance in the tournament opener against Pakistan. Her stunning two in-swinging deliveries in the very first over of that match set the tone for Bangladesh’s win and drew praise from fans and cricketing stars across the globe.
As Bangladesh prepare to face England in their second match today at 3:30 PM local time in Guwahati, Assam, the spotlight remains firmly on the young fast bowler. However, captain Nigar Sultana Joty is keen to shield her rising star from excessive pressure.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Joty said, “We try to give her a very simple game plan. Whether she succeeds or not, we never put extra pressure on her.”
Marufa’s journey from a humble background has been one of grit and perseverance. Growing up in poverty, she even had to help her father plough fields during her childhood. Reflecting on the young pacer’s resilience, Joty praised both her character and work ethic.
“We all know the struggles she’s come through. She’s an extremely hard-working girl, and now she’s seeing the results of that hard work. There’s been a lot of discussion since that first match, but from what I’ve seen, she doesn’t pay much attention to any of it, maybe because of her childlike innocence,” said the skipper.
After beginning their campaign in Colombo, Bangladesh now find themselves in different conditions in North-East India. Despite the change in venue and opponent, Joty hopes the win against Pakistan will act as a confidence booster, especially for the bowling unit.
“The first match was very important; a good start boosts team morale. In these kinds of tournaments, spinners usually dominate, but Marufa gave us a fantastic start and the spinners chipped in to take eight wickets together. As a bowling unit, we’re in a good rhythm,” she explained.
On the batting front, Joty believes the side showed promise against Pakistan and is hopeful they can carry that form into the match against England. “Our batters were confident against Pakistan. We want to carry that positive intent forward.”
Bangladesh last faced England in the 2022 T20 World Cup. Aware of England’s formidable line-up, Joty hinted at possible tactical tweaks to the playing XI.
“We want to play our natural game, but since England have several right-handed batters, there might be some strategic changes. Depending on the conditions, we might include an extra spinner or seamer. Fariha Trisna is under consideration,” she added.
Meanwhile, England all-rounder Charlie Dean acknowledged the threat posed by Marufa’s swing, identifying it as a key area of focus for their batters.
“Our main goal will be to handle Marufa’s swing. Once we settle, we’ll try to bat for as long as possible against the spinners, that’s our approach to the game,” said Dean.
