Nahida Akter wins ICC 'Player of the Month' as the first Bangladeshi woman cricketer

Nahida Akter became the first Bangladeshi cricketer named ICC Women's Player of the Month. The accolade was awarded in recognition of her stellar performance in November, where she played a pivotal role in securing a series win against Pakistan.

Nahida emerged victorious in a tough competition, outshining her compatriot Fargana Hoque and Pakistani spinner Sadia Iqbal to clinch the prestigious title. Her outstanding contributions with the ball in the three-match ODI series against Pakistan at home showcased her exceptional skills and determination.

Expressing her joy and gratitude, Nahida Akter remarked, "This is a moment to cherish. To be recognized by such a distinguished panel of cricket experts means a lot, and winning the ICC Women Player of the Month award will be a massive source of inspiration and motivation for me."

During the series against Pakistan, Nahida claimed seven wickets, helping the Tigresses clinch a 2-1 series victory. 

In the first match, despite a losing effort, she managed to secure three wickets. The second ODI saw Nahida's all-round brilliance as she claimed one wicket and bowled the decisive super over, leading her team to victory. 

In the series decider, Nahida once again demonstrated her bowling prowess by taking 3-26, securing the historic series win for Bangladesh.

At just 23 years old, Nahida Akter already has the record as the highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh in Women's T20Is and the third-highest in ODIs. Such individual brilliance has also been reflected in the Bangladesh women's team's recent performance, showing an upward graph.