Women’s cricket teams from 12 universities across the
country competed at BRAC University in the two-day Ayesha Abed T-10
Inter-University Women’s Cricket Tournament, which concluded on Thursday (15
October 2026). The tournament was organised as part of BRAC University’s 25th
anniversary celebrations.
Inaugurating the tournament, State Minister for Youth and
Sports Aminul Islam emphasised the need to create an environment in which
students can pursue sports as a profession alongside their academic studies.
Educational institutions should provide opportunities for various sporting
events throughout the year, he said, expressing interest in collaborating with
private universities in this regard.
BRAC University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Arshad
Mahmud Chowdhury said that for students to develop into well-rounded
individuals, they need opportunities to achieve physical and mental well-being
as well as to acquire a diverse range of skills. BRAC University Treasurer
Ariful Islam said the university is actively working to further develop its
sports infrastructure.
The tournament is named after Ayesha Abed, wife of BRAC
founder Sir Fazle Hasan Abed and a key organiser at BRAC, who played a pivotal
role in improving the lives of the poor through rural women’s empowerment and
employment. During BRAC’s formative years, she worked to organise marginalised
communities, raise awareness and create livelihood opportunities. Following her
passing, the Ayesha Abed Foundation was established, which continues to work
towards making rural women self-reliant.
In keeping with that legacy, the tournament aligns with
the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good
Health and Well-being) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality), by promoting physical and
mental well-being among students and expanding opportunities for women in
sport.
The participating institutions were BRAC University,
Daffodil International University, Uttara University, North South University,
Independent University, Bangladesh, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, East
West University, Northern University Bangladesh, Bangladesh University of
Business and Technology, International University of Business Agriculture and
Technology, University of Asia Pacific and Stamford University Bangladesh.
The competition produced a number of standout
performances. Shayla Sumaiya Srishti, a student of Nutrition and Food
Engineering, scored four centuries in five matches, including 114 runs off just
27 balls in the final, and was named Player of the Tournament. Puja Rani
Sarkar, a student of Law, was named Best Bowler for taking two hat-tricks.
In the final, Daffodil International University defeated
Uttara University by 121 runs to lift the trophy. The champions received BDT
100,000 and the runners-up BDT 50,000. National women’s cricket team player
Juairiya Ferdous Joyita, BRAC University Registrar Dr David Dowland and Head of
Student Life Tahsina Rahman presented the trophies.
