Bangladeshi Captain Nigar Sultana Joty is optimistic about her team's performance in the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup in the UAE, despite their challenging history in the tournament. The event was moved from Bangladesh due to political unrest, but the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is still hosting it in partnership with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB).

Historical Context

Bangladesh's only win in the T20 World Cup came in 2014 when they hosted the tournament, defeating Ireland in a ninth-place play-off. Since then, the team has participated in four more editions, losing all 16 matches they played during those tournaments. Joty, who has played in all of those editions, emphasized that breaking the losing streak is their primary goal, starting with a strong performance against Scotland in their opening match, where they have an unbeaten record of four wins.

Team Preparation and Goals

In a recent pre-tournament press conference, Joty highlighted the importance of winning the first match to build momentum, stating, “To get into the rhythm, winning in the first match is always important." She acknowledged the team's struggles in batting but noted that the UAE pitches could favor their strong spin attack. 

 

"We are hungry to win a match," she said, emphasizing their determination to start the tournament on a positive note. Despite acknowledging Scotland as a tough opponent, she expressed confidence in her team's capabilities.

Milestone and Support

Joty is set to make history as the first Bangladeshi woman to play 100 WT20I matches in the game against Scotland. She believes that if they can break the defeat jinx, they have the potential to reach the semifinals.

 

Head coach Hashan Tillakaratne shared Joty's concerns about batting but also recognized some improvements during their recent matches. "Batting is a headache, but there were some positives against Sri Lanka A. We are very much confident. I am sure they will win the game for us," he said.

Upcoming Matches

Bangladesh will begin their campaign against Scotland on October 3 in Sharjah, followed by matches against England on October 5, West Indies on October 11, and South Africa on October 13. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals on October 17 and 18, with the final scheduled for October 20 in Dubai. The Tigresses are set to depart for Dubai on Thursday, looking to make their mark in the tournament.