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Jahanara Alam has recently taken a break from the Bangladesh national women’s team for an indefinite period and hasn’t been included for the forthcoming West Indies Tour. The most successful pacer of Bangladesh in women’s cricket has talked about her recent decision and future plans in an exclusive interview with ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ·â€™s Saifullah Bin Anowar. Here are the excerpts:Ìý

¶¶Òõ¾«Æ·: How’s your experience in Australia?Ìý

Jahanara Alam: Everything is good, including cricket. I’m playing for Sydney Cricket Club in the first-grade premier league. I got the offer a few months back. They value my experience; they’ve asked me to oversee the bowling side. So I’ve been doing a little bit of mentoring too.Ìý

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NA: When will you return to Bangladesh?Ìý

Jahanara: The season here [Australia] runs for six months, and I’ve got a multiple-entry visa. As I took an official leave from the Bangladesh national team, now I want to continue playing here for a few more days.Ìý

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NA: Have you thought about your retirement yet?Ìý

Jahanara: No, I haven’t thought about my retirement yet, let alone taking it. I just have had to take a short break. It might be a few weeks; it might be a few months. Everything will depend on me—when I want to return.

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NA: We’ve heard that there’s a mental health issue going on with you.Ìý

Jahanara: Everything is related to mental health, right? I just wanted to take a break. So, it’s definitely related to mental health. I’ve only notified them that I needed some time.Ìý

My cricket career is about 18 years old now. I’ve been playing for a long time. As a senior cricketer, the least I could expect from my board is that if I wanted a break, they’d provide me that. So, this is simple.Ìý

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NA: You returned to the national fold after a year-long gap. How much have you enjoyed this term?Ìý

Jahanara: I returned by top-performing in domestic cricket. I’ve played for six months and played some series, including the World Cup. Though I haven’t played any match in the World Cup except a warm-up, I performed well in that match too.Ìý

You might’ve seen my performance; you might’ve seen how I was in the dugout even when I was not in the eleven. The thing is, I want to keep my professional career far from gaining any sympathy or letting any emotions in. So it was all the same for me, just like before.Ìý

But I’m grateful to Habibul Bashar Sumon bhai [Head of women’s wing, BCB], who valued my performance in domestic cricket. Salauddin sir also helped me with my cricket this time.Ìý

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NA: Do you feel you deserve a spot more often in the national team this time?Ìý

Jahanara: I always put my team first, and this is basically up to the team. If the team needed me, I would’ve played. I’ve said this before—whatever the team needs, I’d try to do that. Whenever I got the opportunity, I tried to deliver. I didn’t feel anything; it’s what the team wants.Ìý

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NA: What do you think about the future pacers like Marufa and Trishna?Ìý

Jahanara: They’re doing really well. If they are given the opportunity and proper grooming and wicket, then everyone will be beneficial. Robiul Islam [bowling coach] bhai is working very hard with them.Ìý

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NA: How eager are they to learn from a senior like you?Ìý

Jahanara: You better ask them. You’ve got to talk to the other junior cricketers and seniors about how our—like me, Salma apu—presence helps the juniors with their mentoring and guidance. From my point of view, I can say that I do my job. That is, as a senior cricketer, to guide them, provide them a pathway, and then come my hard work, performance, and contribution for my team.Ìý

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NA: You’ve played under Salma Khatun, Rumana Ahmed, and now Nigar Sultana Joty. What’s your take on her as a captain?Ìý

Jahanara: No comments. See, I’ve played under three captains, including Joty; I myself captained the national team. Joty is a junior to us. It’s too early to talk about her. That’s why I don’t want to talk about this.Ìý

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NA: There’s a trend in both men’s and women’s cricket in Bangladesh that the players’ retirement doesn’t happen in a proper way. What’s your plan, and how do you want to retire?Ìý

Jahanara: Oh my god, I haven’t thought like this (laughs). But yes, you’re right; someone should take the initiative. I’ll think about it. Let’s see what happens in the future.Ìý

And the thing is, I was told that I had to return to the national side only by performing in the domestic. So I was focused on that; I didn’t think about anything else. I’m busy here too.