Bangladesh have stunned India by three wickets to win the ACC Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup in a fairytale finish in a last-ball thriller in Malaysia.
Bangladesh women lifted their maiden Asia Cup trophy with a landmark three-wicket victory over India women’s team in the final in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday. Since playing their first international match in 2007 against Thailand, Bangladesh women made a giant stride to outclass their male counterparts who had played their first ODI match way back in 1986 and achieved the Test status in 2000.
Nizamuddin Chowdhury, the BCB chief executive, said that the Asia Cup performance has already had a big enough impact for the board to think differently about women's cricket, starting with separate sponsorship. "Team performance obviously has an impact on overall morale, popularity and sponsorship," Chowdhury told ESPNcricinfo. "Currently, the women's national team sponsorship is bundled with the men's senior team, but after this success we have to think separately. They now have their own value to attract sponsors.
"We have to think especially about the women's game in Bangladesh. We already have some talent-hunt programmes through domestic tournaments, but we should do more for their development."
About sixteen to 17 players in the national team are being paid BDT 10,000 to 30,000 (USD 120 to 360) per month for the last few years, since the salary structure came in place in 2012. For an ODI, they are paid USD 100 per game and USD 75 for a T20 international. The BCB is also likely to discuss the salary structure in its next board meeting on June 11.