The Daily Star (DS): Early in your career, there was criticism around your lack of big scores and questions over your place in the team. How challenging was that phase mentally, and what kept you going?

Sobhana Mostary (SM): I admit that the start of my career was not what I, the people around me, or the cricket board had expected. It was a very difficult time… I realised that if I wanted to change my life, I had to change myself.

DS: Your coaches have described you as the team’s most improved batter.

SM: I am grateful to the management and especially my captain, [Nigar Sultana] Joty apu. I am thankful they never demotivated me. Sometimes getting dropped is good because it makes you realise what you need to focus on.

DS: What do you see as the biggest factors behind your recent consistency at the international level?

SM: Fitness is a factor, but the main difference is adapting to international intensity. I worked on maintaining my temperament and focus after crossing 35–40 runs. In the past, when I had to hit immediately, my fitness wasn’t where it needed to be; shots that used to travel 60 yards and get caught are now going 80 yards for sixes. Practising patience against big teams like England and Australia in the last World Cup also gave me the confidence to hold the innings together.

I read an article about Rohit Sharma having a tough start to his career, but he ended up becoming a legend and winning the World Cup. I want my career to finish beautifully like his.

DS: Who have been your batting inspirations over the years?

SM: I follow South African captain Laura Wolvaardt. My childhood idol is Harmanpreet Kaur because I like her long-handle batting style, which I also use. At a younger age, I liked Tamim Iqbal. When I was nine, I once cried for a week because my father bought me an SS bat instead of a CA bat, which Tamim bhai was using. My father then got me the CA bat after a week.

DS: Finally, how did you react to the Bangladesh men’s team missing out on the T20 World Cup?

SM: I was hopeful they would be able to go. I remember going to the Australia World Cup when I was young, and it was the best time of my life. Every player dreams of playing in the World Cup, so missing it is very hard to accept, but we have to accept the reality.