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‘Couldn’t Afford Clothes’: Marufa Akter’s Viral Story Shakes Women’s World Cup 2025

Shivansh Rana | 3 min read | 1 day ago | Oct 15, 2025 08:10 am IST
'Couldn’t Afford Clothes': Marufa Akter's Viral Story Shakes Women's World Cup 2025

You see the stars on the field, but do you ever wonder about the journey that got them there? For Bangladesh’s 20-year-old pace sensation Marufa Akter, that journey is one of heartbreaking struggle. An ICC documentary aired on October 10 ahead of their Women’s World Cup 2025 match has pulled back the curtain, and her story is going viral for all the right reasons.

Key Takeaways

  • Marufa Akter, a 20-year-old pacer, emotionally recalled her family’s struggle with extreme poverty.
  • Her family couldn’t afford new clothes for Eid and were often excluded from social events.
  • During the pandemic, she ploughed fields with her father to support her family.
  • She is now Bangladesh’s leading bowler in the 2025 World Cup with five wickets in four games.

‘People Didn’t Invite Us’

Look, it’s one thing to be poor, but it’s another to be made to feel invisible. Marufa broke down on camera as she recalled how her family of farmers was treated. “People didn’t invite us to their houses… we didn’t have proper clothes to wear,” she said, her voice trembling. It got so bad they couldn’t even afford new clothes for Eid, a festival of joy.

And the struggle was very real. During the COVID-19 pandemic, with everything shut down, a teenage Marufa wasn’t just practicing cricket. She was out in the fields, ploughing leased land alongside her father, just to help them survive. That’s grit. Pure grit.

From the Fields to a World Cup Star

But fast forward to today, and that same girl is now the one everyone is watching. Marufa has been on fire in the Women’s World Cup 2025. She’s Bangladesh’s leading bowler, snatching five crucial wickets in just four matches with a tight economy rate of 6.15.

Remember the match against Pakistan on October 2? That was her. She won ‘Player of the Match’ for her incredible performance, taking two wickets for just 31 runs. She sent Omaima Sohail and Sidra Amin packing with some absolutely stunning in-swingers, showing the world what she’s made of.

A ‘Peace’ Beyond Cricket

But honestly, for Marufa, it’s not just about the wickets. It’s about what this success means for her family. “I am a girl, and I can do so much for my family… many boys can’t do that,” she shared. “It gives me a lot of peace.”

And she’s not wrong. Her career has been meteoric since her debut in 2023. She’s already picked up 25 wickets in 29 ODIs and 20 in 30 T20Is. She even has a four-wicket haul against powerhouse India from back in July 2023. Her journey is more than a sports story; it’s a symbol of hope.

What This Means for Bangladesh

Marufa Akter’s story is a powerful reminder that talent can blossom from the harshest of soils. As Bangladesh continues its World Cup campaign, her bowling will be key, but her spirit is what will inspire millions. What part of her journey resonates with you the most?