The Bangladesh Cricket Board on Sunday announced Tk 35 lakh as a performance bonus for the Bangladesh women’s team and its coaching staff thanks to their gleaming achievements against India in the recently concluded Twenty20 internationals and one-day international series at their lodge.
Although the home side suffered a 2-1 loss in the three T20Is, at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, however, they turned the tables, securing their maiden 40-run win in the D/L method in the 50-over format against the defending Asian champions in the first of the three ODIs.
However, Nigar Sultana-led Bangladesh failed to sustain momentum in the next game as they lost to them by a commanding 108-run margin that aided the visitors to level the series at 1-1.
But they ended the competition with a thrilling tie in the series deciding third ODI after Fargana Hoque became the first Bangladeshi women cricketer to hit an ODI hundred, that guided the hosts to secure their maiden draw against the mighty side.
‘Normally we give bonuses when we win a series, but since we won our first ODI against India and there were a few individual performances like Fargana Hoque who scoring a century, we decided to give Tk 25 lakh for the players, said the BCB chief Nazmul Hasan on Sunday.
‘We will also give Tk 2 lakh bonus to the player, who scored hundred and other cricketers individually. I think the total amount of bonus will be around Tk 35 lakh including bonus for the coaching staff.’
However, the BCB boss was unwilling to make any comment regarding the controversial acts and remarks of Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur during the third ODI.
‘Cricket is such a game where everyone knows its rules and regulations and the entire world has witnessed what happened. So we have nothing to say as there are rules and regulations and those will imply accordingly.’
‘We have nothing to say since there is a match referee and umpires and the ICC will take necessary steps. But I am happy to see that our girls didn't do anything such.’
Afterward she got out by Nahida Akter, the touring skipper, Harmanpreet criticised the field umpires. And in the presentation, she termed the umpiring pathetic, adding that they would have all sorts of preparation for such umpiring before coming to feature in a series against Bangladesh in their backyard in the future. Smrity told all these in the post-match press conference.
Earlier in the day, Nazmul threw a lunch gathering at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the city to celebrate the feats earned by the Bangladesh women’s team.
