Salma Khatun, former captain of Bangladesh’s women’s cricket team, has once again made history. She has been appointed as the first-ever female selector for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), a groundbreaking achievement in a country where women’s cricket still struggles for recognition.
Born in Khulna on October 1, 1990, Salma’s earliest memories are of playing cricket with her cousins, uncle and neighbourhood children. Her natural talent soon made her a familiar face in inter-division practices. It was at one such session that international cricketer Sheikh Salahuddin noticed her, impressed by her performance at an inter-district tournament. That moment proved pivotal, earning Salma a place in the national side when Bangladesh made its debut at the 2007 Asian Cricket Council Women’s Tournament.
Salma’s career has been marked by historic milestones. She was part of the Bangladesh squad that won a silver medal at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, the country’s first major success in women’s cricket. Two years later, she made her T20 debut against Ireland, cementing her place as a cornerstone of the team.
Her crowning glory came in June 2018 when she played a vital role in Bangladesh’s first-ever Women’s Asia Cup victory. That triumph against powerhouse India reshaped the narrative of women’s cricket in the country. Later that year, she captained Bangladesh in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier and the World Twenty20 in the West Indies, further solidifying her reputation as a dependable leader.
Salma’s leadership extended into 2019 when she guided Bangladesh to a dramatic gold medal win at the South Asian Games in Nepal, edging out Sri Lanka by just two runs in the final. In 2020, she captained Bangladesh at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia, emerging as the team’s leading wicket-taker with six scalps in four matches. She continued to lead Bangladesh at major tournaments, including the 2021 World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, the 2022 Commonwealth Games Qualifier in Malaysia, and the 2022 Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.
Now, as she takes on her new role with the BCB, Salma is set to shape the future of women’s cricket from a different vantage point. She will join Sazzad Ahmed on the women’s selection panel, bringing her wealth of experience and firsthand understanding of the challenges faced by female cricketers.
From silver at the Asian Games and gold at the South Asian Games to leading Bangladesh on the world stage and now becoming the first female selector at the BCB, Salma’s journey is one of resilience, leadership, and trailblazing spirit. Her career is not just about personal triumphs but about opening doors for the next generation of Bangladeshi women who dare to dream beyond limitations.
