Marufa Akter

A right-arm medium-fast bowler, Marufa Akter is a rarity in Bangladesh cricket - a genuine pace option in a system traditionally dominated by spin. She credits her older brother with encouraging her to pursue cricket when her family was initially sceptical about her choice of career, and has said that Hardik Pandya, the India allrounder, is her cricketing idol.

Marufa's rise has been as rapid as it has been improbable, a journey that has taken her from working on her father's farm during the Covid-19 pandemic to becoming one of Bangladesh's most exciting pace prospects. Born in Nilphamari, her family background is modest, where financial constraints and limited support shaped her early years.

After progressing through domestic cricket and training at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan, she earned her senior international debut in late 2022 at the age of 17, quickly becoming a regular in both the ODI and T20I sides. Her breakthrough came at the 2023 Under-19 women's T20 World Cup, where she finished as Bangladesh's leading wicket-taker, showcasing control, discipline and an ability to hit consistent lengths.

That tournament marked the beginning of a swift transition. Marufa made an impression with the senior side on the global stage, including a three-wicket spell against Sri Lanka in the 2023 T20 World Cup where she underlined her ability to deliver with the new ball.

One of her defining performances came in 2023, when her four-wicket haul against India helped Bangladesh secure their first ODI win over their higher-ranked neighbours.

Known for her smooth run-up, upright seam and discipline around the off stump, she has established herself as a new-ball bowler capable of troubling top-order batters. Still early in her career, Marufa has already been identified as a potential long-term leader of Bangladesh's pace attack. It's a reflection of both her skillset and the broader shift in the team's bowling resources.