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Father’s Cricket, Daughter’s Futsal: Why Humaira Mortaza chose a different path

Published : Wednesday, 19 August, 2026 at 5:17 PM

Hasibul Islam

Collected Photo

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza is one of the most recognisable figures in Bangladesh cricket. His pace, fighting spirit and leadership have made him a familiar name to sports fans across the country. His daughter, Humaira Mortaza, however, is now beginning to carve out her own identity in a different sport - Futsal. She is currently playing for Athletic Club in the ongoing futsal league in Dhaka, naturally raising curiosity about why the daughter of a celebrated cricketer chose football over cricket.

Humaira’s interest in sports has been evident from an early age. She is also a fan of Argentina’s national football team. In 2023, she met Argentina’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez during his visit to Dhaka and collected his autograph. Mashrafe himself had previously said that both of his children are fans of Argentina.

Humaira’s decision to pursue futsal, however, may not simply be a matter of choosing a different path from her father. While being the daughter of a cricketer could naturally create an association with cricket, a young athlete’s choice of sport ultimately depends on personal interest, ability and passion. In Humaira’s case, that individual preference may have drawn her towards futsal. That is perhaps the most interesting aspect of her journey, not how far she can go as Mashrafe’s daughter, but how far she can go as a futsal player in her own right.

Her emergence also highlights a broader reality in sports. When the children of celebrated athletes enter competitive sports, their family identity can often overshadow their own talent. For Humaira, the challenge will be to gradually establish an identity through her own performances rather than relying on her father’s immense popularity. Her participation in the futsal league for Athletic Club marks an early step in that journey.

Mashrafe chose cricket and went on to write a remarkable chapter in Bangladesh’s sporting history. There is no reason his daughter has to follow the same route. Humaira’s move into futsal is a reminder that the children of sporting icons can choose their own fields and create their own stories. The question now is how far Humaira’s story will go.

-HIS

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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

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