Jannatul Ferdus Sumona was called up in the Bangladesh Women squad for the forthcoming ODI World Cup Qualifier, following her impressive performance in the Dhaka Premier League for the Sheltech Cricket Academy—who emerged as unbeaten champions. She was the highest wicket taker with 21 at 14.33. The off-spinner moved to Australia—where she played domestic cricket—after playing three matches for Bangladesh in 2018 and returned to the team last year. In an exclusive interview, the 25-year-old talked to ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ·â€™s Saifullah Bin Anowar about her recent performance, Sheltech’s success, and her future plan.Ìý
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¶¶Òõ¾«Æ·: How pleased are you with your bowling in the Premier League? Did you work in any particular area?
Jannatul Ferdus Sumona: I’m really happy with the way I’ve been bowling this year, especially in the Premier League. Before that, I took 14 wickets in two matches in BCL. In the off-season, I really worked hard with my coach, Humayun Kabir Sahin, which paid off.
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NA: Did you set any particular goal for yourself before the league started?Ìý
Sumona: If you ask anyone, they would say, ‘I would like to be the highest wicket taker.’ But I didn’t focus on these things; rather, I wanted to maintain my focus, taking one game at a time. I think the result will follow if your process is right. I focused on maintaining my routine, planning before the match. Maybe I was successful in those areas; that’s why I got the result.Ìý
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NA: Your team, Sheltech Cricket Academy, was just promoted from the first division and became an unbeaten Champion. What was the secret behind it?Ìý
Sumona: I didn’t know them before. When Joty [Nigar Sultana] came to the team, she asked me if I could play with them. Obviously, the thought was that as she was playing, the team would be good.Ìý
The management was fantastic. I must mention our manager, Humayun Kabir Ripon. They worked hard and did their job well. And I think our team bonding was very good; we maintained a good team culture. Our understanding was well. I think this was one of the reasons behind our success.Ìý
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NA: You were a relatively less experienced side than the likes of Mohammedan. What worked well for you?Ìý
Sumona: On paper Mohammedan was a good team. But we also knew that if we played well on our day, we could beat any team. We did it, and that too, without any foreign cricketers. As I said, our team spirit was fantastic.
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NA: How was the quality of the league overall?Ìý
Sumona: This time the league started on time. The weather was nice, suitable. Because, last time I played, it was very hot, as it was the middle of the summer. It was unpleasant for me, as I just arrived from abroad.Ìý
Of course, there are some things to improve on. I think, BCB will find those to make it better. But I was very happy with this season. The quality of the tournament was good.Ìý
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NA: Though you returned to the national T20 side earlier, now you are in the ODI side too. Wasn’t it expected, given how you performed in the league? Ìý
Sumona: In that perspective, I was always positive from my side that if I performed well, then I would’ve gotten the opportunity. I was only worried about my performance—how I could do better. It’s nice to get the opportunity. I think every player should follow this—if you do well, the opportunities will come. It’s important to stay positive. Eight years ago, I was very young. The more you play, the more experienced you’ll be.Ìý
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NA: You returned to the country last year and have been playing in domestic cricket too. What’s your future plan now?
Sumona: I went to Australia to mainly explore their cricket. I played in their highest domestic competition—in First Class cricket. But my ultimate goal remained the same; I wanted to play for my country again.Ìý
To be honest, I was doing quite well there. But in the back of my mind, I always had this thought: as a sportsperson, I wanted to do something for my country. I was getting very emotional whenever I saw our women’s team, the colours of red and green. I was like, ‘I own this team; I should be there.’Ìý
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NA: Bangladesh missed the direct qualification for the World Cup; you were not in the Championship. How confident are you with the team on qualification?Ìý
Sumona: The confidence is our main strength. If we can play as a team, we can beat anyone. I know there’s a lot of difference between the Dhaka league and international cricket. But if your team bonding is good, if there’s a positive environment, then the result will come.Ìý
