BCB announces Tk 35 lakh bonus for Women's team

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday announced a Tk 35 lakh bonus for the Women's team for their tremendous performance against the Indian Women's team.

Bangladesh though lost the three-match T20 series by 2-1, they put up a memorable performance in the three-match ODI series, which ended in a 1-1 draw after the last match was tied.

Apart from beating India in T20 format for the first time after five years, they registered their maiden ODI victory against the mighty neighbours, winning the rain-hit first ODI by 40 runs. India leveled the series with 108-run victory in the second game but Bangladesh avoided a defeat in the third game, forcing India to tie the third game.

Fargana Hoque Pinky became the first Bangladesh woman cricketer to hit a century in the ODI cricket when he made 107 in the third ODI.

"We have a century in the series. Some of the girls played really good. We had given Taka 25 lakh for the team and for individual performance, like century and other performances, we had given some bonus separately. Overall the amount of bonus might be Taka 35 lakh," BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon said in a local hotel.

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Papon admitted Bangladesh women's team lacked enough facilities but has the fire to fight with neck-to-neck against any nations.

"I watched the second match sitting on the ground. That day too I said I was satisfied and not disappointed with the game (as Bangladesh lost the match).

There was only one reason behind saying that the Indian girls are much stronger than us. After England, Australia, India are the strongest team in women's cricket. We cannot provide the same facilities to our girls as they provide," Papon added.

The BCB president had already informed the captain Nigar Sultana Joty about the bonus.

The BCB boss said the way they Bangladeshi girls played against India, it proved that they had already made a giant stride.

"The girls don't think them a weaker side as we were used to think. They play with courage, no matter how strong the opponent. Winning the first ODI was an upset. I talked to the captain after winning against India. I said you girls will get a bonus if you win another match. To be honest, I myself also don't believe that much. But they played very well. One thing we can say, no doubt everyone will admit that the girls are trying hard."

Source: BSS