Star footballer Sabina Khatun felt like a proud Bangladeshi after the national women's cricket team clinched their first ever Asia Cup title. With that said, Sabina didn’t hide her discontent regarding the unfairness in facilities between the men's and women's sides.
"I haven’t followed the women's cricket matches regularly but I know some of the cricketers, like Salma [Khatun], Sukhtara and Rumana [Ahmed]. It's a matter of pride for the country after what they have done, compared to the men's cricket team’s results in the same tournament," said the Bangladesh football team captain Monday.
Bangladesh managed to reach the final only twice – in 2012 and 2016 - out of 12 editions since the introduction of the Men's Asia Cup in 1984. The women's team in contrast, made their Asia Cup debut in the event's fourth edition in 2008. And within a span of only 10 years, the women cricketers delivered the country its first major silverware.
Rumana Ahmed, the player of the match in the finals, expresses her delight as Bangladesh won their first Women's Asia Cup crown! #ACC #WAC2018 pic.twitter.com/XauXcBvOFN
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) June 11, 2018
Yet, the highest paid national female cricketers’ facilities and earnings are nowhere near that of even the lowest-paid male counterparts. Admitting the fact, Sabina added, "What I have also noticed is that women's cricket is rarely shown live on TV. Everybody talks about the equal rights of men and women but acts the opposite in reality."
The female footballers at the residential camp underwent their final practice session Monday before going for a nine-day Eid-ul-Fitr vacation, until June 20. Youth team captain Maria Manda was waiting for the bus to her hometown Mymensingh. The youngster said, "We missed the final due to our tight practice schedule but it was all over facebook and TV. I heard that they also beat India the first time. We have been doing well, and the female cricketers have also started winning things. It is really a proud moment for us."
