The 2026 Women’s Asia Cup is already underway and Bangladesh enter the tournament with a familiar opportunity – to test themselves against the best in Asia and, potentially, India.For Sobhana Mostary, however, the Asia Cup carries a significance that goes well beyond the matches ahead. Six years after Bangladesh’s historic triumph in 2018, the memories of that campaign remain deeply connected to how she views the tournament and the growth of women’s cricket in her country.Bangladesh women’s cricket has come a long way since its historic victory over India in the 2018 Women’s Asia Cup, a victory that Sobhana Mostary believes transformed the nature of the sport in her country.For Mostary, the 2018 triumph remains a defining moment for Bangladesh women’s cricket.“After 2018, we beat India and won the Asia Cup, so it was a huge change in Bangladesh women’s cricket. Everything changed. They started giving us lots of facilities, money, everything. There was a lot of change,” Mostary told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interaction ahead of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026.In their 2018 campaign, Bangladesh beat India twice in the tournament, including a seven-wicket win in the group stage, before defeating the defending champions by three wickets in a thrilling final in Kuala Lumpur to win their maiden Women’s Asia Cup title. The final went down to the last ball, with Jahanara Alam completing the winning two runs as Bangladesh chased down India’s 112/9.The impact was immediate. Bangladesh Cricket Board announced a Bangladeshi Taka 2 crore reward for the victorious women’s team. For Mostary, the legacy of that victory remains relevant even years later.“We think this Asia Cup, we fight for the title, because if we beat India, so maybe we own the Asia Cup,” she said.Now, as Bangladesh prepare for another Asia Cup campaign, Mostary knows the challenge is different. Bangladesh are in Group B alongside Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the UAE, while India are in Group A with Pakistan, Thailand and Hong Kong. A meeting between the two sides can only come in the knockout stage.
From a village academy to international cricket
Mostary’s own journey began far away from the international spotlight. She started playing several sports as a child, including football, badminton and cricket. At the age of 10, her father took her to a cricket academy in her village. After around six months of training, she attended a trial conducted by the Bangladesh Krira Shiksha Pratisthan (BKSP) and was selected.That selection changed the course of her life. Mostary moved to Dhaka without her parents to pursue cricket. Her international debut came remarkably early. She was just 16 years old when she first played for Bangladesh.But making her debut did not immediately translate into a regular place in the XI. Mostary recalled spending the next three to three-and-a-half years travelling with the Bangladesh team without getting consistent opportunities to play.“It was very difficult. I always travelled with the team, but couldn’t play. I just waited and thought that someday the opportunity would come and I could show my strength, ” she said.
‘Day by day, I improve’
The patience eventually began to pay off. The ICC described Mostary as a bright future prospect in 2023, but the batter believes she is still working towards fulfilling that potential.“I don’t think I have fulfilled my dream and that bright future yet, but day by day, I improve, ” she said.
Harmanpreet Kaur : The childhood idol
Interestingly, one of Mostary’s biggest inspirations comes from across the border. Her childhood idol is Harmanpreet Kaur, the India captain whose batting left a lasting impression on her as a young cricketer from Bangladesh. Mostary specifically recalled watching Harmanpreet’s memorable 2017 Women’s World Cup innings against Australia, when the Indian batter smashed an unbeaten 171.“That match inspired me a lot, I followed her batting, everything how she controls the match, and now the time how she captains. I just followed everything, ” Mostary admitted.Playing India, in fact, remains something she describes as exciting rather than intimidating.“For Bangladeshi fans, playing India is a very good match. They are crazy fans and lots of supporters come to watch. It is a normal match, but normally playing India is very interesting and always very exciting for us,” she added.Mostary also has a particular appreciation for India’s bowling attack. Asked which Indian bowler she would like to face, she picked Deepti Sharma, praising the all-rounder’s consistency and variety.“Deepti Sharma is always the top bowler in the Indian side, she has played consistently for so many years and improved day by day. I love her bowling, ” Mostary said.
A session with Laura Wolvaardt
While Harmanpreet remains her childhood idol, Mostary has another player she would love to train with, South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt.“I want to practise with Laura Wolvaardt, I really like her batting, and she’s also a good human being,” she said.
Cricket over medicine
There was a time when cricket was not even Mostary’s first career choice. Asked what she might have done had she not pursued cricket, she revealed that becoming a doctor was a possibility.“Maybe a doctor, because my mother wanted me to be a doctor,” she said.Instead, the 16-year-old who once left home to pursue cricket has now spent years representing Bangladesh on the international stage.“I struggled for three or four years, but now I have improved,” she said.And with India once again standing in Bangladesh’s path, Mostary knows exactly what another victory could mean.(Watch DP World Women’s Asia live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD & Sony LIV.)
