Nahida Akter

A left-arm orthodox spinner with admirable control and subtle variations, Nahida Akter has become a key figure in Bangladesh's rise in women's cricket, establishing herself as the team's lead spinner and one of their most consistent wicket-takers.

Born in Kishoreganj, a city about 100 kilometres from Dhaka, but raised in Dhaka, Nahida did not grow up playing proper cricket. Her interest in the sport began after watching Bangladesh men's matches on television with her brother, which eventually encouraged her to pursue the game more seriously. In 2013, she joined Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP), where her cricketing education began in earnest. Although she initially enjoyed batting, coaches quickly recognised her potential as a bowler and helped her develop a proper action, teaching her the fundamentals of left-arm spin with a leather ball.

Her performances at BKSP led to her coming into the national set-up. After missing an early opportunity to attend a national camp because of her school examinations, Nahida returned with strong domestic performances and eventually broke into the senior team in 2015, becoming Bangladesh's youngest ODI debutant at 14 years and 336 days. She has played more than 150 international matches in white-ball cricket and taken over 190 wickets across formats since.

In her early years with the national side, Nahida benefitted from the guidance of senior players such as Salma Khatun and Rumana Ahmed. Their calmness and tactical awareness left a lasting impression on her approach to bowling and handling pressure at the international level.

Over time, Nahida has established herself as Bangladesh's leading spinner across formats. Drawing inspiration from bowlers such as Shakib Al Hasan and Rangana Herath, she has continued to refine her craft while also mentoring younger spinners in the squad.

Nahida's rise has faced its share of resistance. Her family was ridiculed for allowing her to play cricket, and she endured taunts growing up. Today she stands as one of the flag-bearers of the women's game in her country.