Bangladesh's seasoned all-rounder Fahima Khatun is known by different names in the national dressing room, "Teacher" and "Herbal" among them.

In an exclusive chat with Cricbuzz, Fahima, who featured in all of Bangladesh's T20 World Cup campaigns, spoke about her journey, her role in nurturing younger players, and her ambitions beyond cricket.

You have just played your 100th T20I as only the third Bangladeshi woman cricketer to achieve the milestone. How was the experience?

Representing Bangladesh is always a massive thing for me. I always enjoy it. The feelings I had when I started back in 2013 and the feelings I have now after completing my 100th match are exactly the same. It always brings a sense of joy because stepping onto the field for Bangladesh or putting on the Bangladesh jersey is a completely different kind of feeling.

You made your T20I debut against India. How do you look back on your journey?

If I evaluate myself separately, I'd say that in terms of experience, I am learning a lot of things now in a completely different way. When we first started, we didn't have separate coaches, a bowling coach or a trainer like we do now. But now we are getting everything and trying to train in different ways.

From that perspective, things are very different, and my experience has brought a lot of changes within me. So, I'd say a lot has changed.

You became the first Bangladeshi woman cricketer to take a hat-trick in T20Is. What does that achievement mean to you?

When I took that hat-trick back in 2019, I felt I got many more opportunities after that as well. Maybe I couldn't make the most of all of them, and there is a little regret in that regard. There were quite a few opportunities to take another hat-trick too.

But of course, it feels wonderful to hold the honour of being the first Bangladeshi woman cricketer to take a hat-trick. When I eventually leave cricket and look back at these memories, that feeling will definitely remain because my name will always be there in women's cricket.

Right now, as a senior player, whenever an opportunity comes, I try to share my experience with the team and contribute with my 100 percent.

There is a perception that you have taken on a mentoring role with Rabeya Khan and Shorna Akter...

I actually enjoy it. We are lucky in Bangladesh women's cricket that we have three different types of leg-spinners. Rabeya and Shorna are different types of leg-spinners, and I am a different type as well.

Along with my leg-spin, I have a few variations, and I always share those with them.

And I must say, the way Rabeya is serving the Bangladesh team, she is developing day by day. I always try to share the best of what I know with them, and they also have unique qualities of their own. No two players are identical.

I always try to stay connected with them. When Rabeya started, she mentioned in one of her interviews that she considers me her idol. Hearing that brings me a huge sense of joy.

Within the team, the three of us always talk about our bowling. Since all three of us are all-rounders, we communicate a lot. They openly talk about it as well, saying they are always learning something from Fahima apu.

As a teacher to your students, how does that relationship feel?

Everyone in the team calls me "Teacher". They actually address me that way. So yes, it definitely feels good.

I willingly try to help them, whether it is regarding fitness or skill. I always enjoy this role, and it brings me a lot of happiness.

You now mentor young leg-spinners, but who taught you when you were starting out?

There was no one. There was no spin coach back then either. When I started, Rumana Ahmed was around most of the time, and I used to try to pick up tips from her. But apart from that, there was no one specifically guiding me.

To Rabeya and Shorna, you are more or less an idol. Did you have a leg-spin idol growing up?

Actually, my idol was Shane Warne. I watched cricket from a very young age and considered him my idol.

When I started, I was a little different - I had a lot of pace on the ball and could turn it quite well. Nowadays, the way leg-spinners are dominating world cricket, you need to learn different variations and understand what kind of deliveries to bowl on sporting wickets.

I am still learning because, to survive at this level, you need to have many weapons in your armoury. So yes, I learned leg-spin mostly by watching. No one taught me hands-on. There was nobody to teach me in that way back then.

Your career-best figures are 4 for 8, but your economy rate is also an impressive 5.82. Throughout your career, did you ever feel tempted to chase wickets at the cost of economy?

You get opportunities to bowl in different situations. Sometimes the team's requirement is for me to provide a breakthrough, while at other times I have to bowl economically.

There are also situations where creating pressure from one end helps the bowler at the other end take wickets. Because I have bowled in different roles throughout my career, I may not have a huge number of wickets, but my economy rate has remained good.

Even now, my only thought is to fulfil the team's requirements - whether that means taking wickets or bowling economically.

You have been part of every Bangladesh Women's T20 World Cup campaign since 2014. How have you managed to stay relevant across different eras and generations of players?

To play for a long time, you need immense dedication. You have to maintain a lot of things. It's not just about skill. As players, we can't lead a normal life. Starting from food habits, there are many rules and regulations that you have to follow. So, I always try to do whatever it takes to keep myself fit.

As for developing my skills, I do that through my coaches and by watching videos and matches myself. I watch a lot of cricket; I love watching the game. I am still learning and trying to improve. Now that we have a leg-spin coach, I try to take inputs from him. If something doesn't seem effective for me, I put it aside.

It wasn't easy when I first started. But now, as a senior player with the experience of playing for a long time, I try to continue learning. Whenever the opportunity comes, I try to give my 100 percent.

You have served Bangladesh women's cricket for a long time, yet the spotlight has rarely been on you. Do you ever miss it?

Of course. Look, T20 is a different format. And yes, I do miss the spotlight in a personal way. But if you notice, I use the internet very little and I am quite inactive on Facebook and other social media platforms.

When an opportunity comes, I just try to deliver for the team. If I take five wickets but the team doesn't win, then at the end of the day, my personal achievement means nothing. I never think about personal achievements. I believe in putting in performances that are effective for the team.

Having said that, of course I miss the spotlight in a personal way. But a World Cup is a different stage altogether, where you get plenty of opportunities to showcase yourself while contributing to the team's needs.

You mentioned missing the spotlight...

In a personal way, yes.

Despite that, you have continued to perform and remain a part of the team. Have you ever regretted choosing cricket?

No, I have never regretted playing cricket.

Sometimes it does feel difficult. Since I spend long periods with the team, I don't get to give that time to my family. From that perspective, it feels a bit bad. My parents are getting older now and they also expect time from me. But they completely enjoy it and feel proud when I wear the Bangladesh jersey and represent the country.

I come from a middle-class family where education was highly prioritised. We are three sisters and a brother. They all completed their graduation and are either working in their respective fields or involved in business.

I do miss the fact that I was studying LLB. I completed it and my results were good too. If I could have given it proper time, perhaps my career could have been different. When I see many of my friends becoming lawyers or judges, I do feel a little bad at times, thinking that maybe I could have had that opportunity too.

But apart from that, cricket has not only given me a name, it has given me respect and financial security. I respect my profession and I love it dearly. That is why I continue to play cricket with the same dedication and hard work.

You have earned the title of "Teacher" within the team. Do you see coaching as a possible career after cricket?

Apart from cricket, I have completed my education. I also have another passion - I love writing.

I don't know what I will do in the future; I haven't thought deeply about it yet. There will be many options, but I am waiting to see where the Almighty takes me. I am not thinking too much about the distant future; I am living in the present.

I am still playing cricket, and I don't even know how long I will continue. But looking at my fitness, I feel I still have a lot to offer the Bangladesh team for a while longer.

When I leave cricket, I might take up writing as a profession. And if I stay attached to sports, then yes, the urge to teach is strong in me. I love teaching.

Since everyone calls me "Teacher", they also call me by another name - "Herbal". I am quite particular about my food habits and try to maintain them strictly.

And you make sure others follow them too?

Yes, I always say this. Most of the time, I tell the juniors, "Eat this, you'll get these benefits from it," or explain the nutrients in different foods.

I always try to guide them. I tell them what is best for them, and they try to follow it. Most of them do. Sometimes they even ask me about a particular food and what vitamins or nutrition it contains. I really enjoy that.