7 March - Dunedin - Bangladesh Captain Nigar Sultana pre-match press conference

Reporter: When you talked to us about your favorite movies you talked about Encanto being one of them. Does it feel like there's a magic in this team, it just some step away from being one of the best teams in the world.

My second question is we all saw your face, when Farzana scored her half century - how proud moment it was for you as a captain?

Nigar: Obviously, I'm very proud of Farzana - because she's getting her first half century in the World Cup and the way she batted in there - It was brilliant. I guess for here I think we got a decent total - So I really appreciate that and I hope that she will get carry forward that and obviously, I believe that I have a good balling and batting unit and we have a good side and we're coming here for that - and we already have proven a lot of things - like we did very well against South Africa, and we have done really well as a bowling unit. And today I think there are a lot of important things - We did well in batting also, in today match you can see that two three batters have done very well.

So I think we have that potential to do well and we don't want to give ourselves like any kind of chance that we do not want to be disappointed. We want to move forward and we want to play well.

Reporter: How do you reflect on today's game and obviously you're experiencing proper Dunedin weather and you made a really positive start but just weren't able to get over the line.

Nigar: Yeah, I think first of all - I would like to say this is not the good playable condition. Because there was a lot of rain over there that but still we played over there. And sometimes that the bowlers couldn't bowl the ball and the fielder couldn’t watch the ball very well, and I was bit worried about the safety of my fielders because we have five more matches to go. So it was very difficult for us to play in this kind of condition. But still, I think, in this condition, if we could play 27 Ove match. I think we could play 50 Over match as well, then we had a chance to fight back actually. So but still I think we have a lot of positive things over here. And then we want to take all the positives from here and want to implement in the next match.

Reporter: So my first question is like you promoted Farzana to open the batting today. And it worked out really well. So what was the logic behind that? And will we see her open through the rest of the tournament? That's the first question.

And the second question is like your play against New Zealand's faster bowlers really stood out and you were very good but was it a little disappointing to lose three wickets against Amy who is probably a part timer in New Zealand six choice bowlers. So yeah, those two questions.

Nigar: Yeah, thank you, I think yeah, if I can tell about Farzana - today the scenario was different, I think because the over was curtailed. That's why we tried Farzana in the opening side. So she did very well, but I don't think so - I don't know. Maybe later on in this yeah, whatever the situation, the condition demands we are going with it.

And I think our batter handled the New Zealand bowlers very well - the fast bowlers and sometimes the people are concerned about maybe we couldn’t adjust to their bowling but they did handle their bowlers very well. And I think yeah, it was quite disappointing because we handled their three top bowlers very well, but we gave our wicket in a part time bowlers - So it was very disappointing. I think we need to work on that and how we control and how we more concentrate on our batting in that kind of situation.

Ankush: Jyoti, In both the matches, your opening batters had a very good start but then they could not carry on. So is there a problem in the middle order in terms of batting or do you see any shortcomings there?

Jyoti: No, as we have seen in the last two matches that our openers gave us a very good start, we are always concerned about handling the new ball in the first ten overs but we are surviving there very well there. But it turns out that the next batters are not able to build a partnership that way. But if you look at our past games, these batters who are batting in the middle order, if I mention the name Romana Ahmed, and others always help to build up or establish our score. Somehow, maybe in this position, it is collapsing. I think we can do better in the next matches by overcoming these.

Mahmudul: Jyoti, We had a very good start in this match although we couldn't carry it on later stage but did you think with this total we could defend it or we have such bowling strength? As you have been saying from the beginning, our bowling strength is very Good. Did you think we could restrict them with this total? Why couldn't you do that in the end?

Jyoti: Of course we always have confidence. Because the total that we brought on the board was very good. But if you see, it was totally different in the second innings. The rain was too much and the weather condition was not completely playable. But still, we have played in that situation. Because the bowlers were facing difficulties to grip even though those who were fielding on the outfield, It rained so much that we had trouble seeing the ball. For that our bowlers had to face a little difficulty. And of course, I would say that the New Zealand's batters have played very good cricket in that place.

Mahmudul: Alright, best of luck Jyoti. [Thank you.]

Roney: Jyoti, The problem was in the middle order as you said, where an experienced batter like Romana or you could not bat well. Shouldn't you take a little more responsibility, or how you can take it, especially in building partnerships? What you've discussed about that?

Jyoti: Of course. See, if I say about my part, the way I started today, then I could build up the innings. Somehow, I got out of that situation. I think I will try my best to score big in that position with a lot more responsibility from next time. Because I am there and after me, there is Romana Ahmed, Ritu, and Salma. If we can all add some runs in that place then the team total will be in a healthy position. Our bowling side is always very good. If we build up a good score there then the bowlers will have a lot of advantages to defend it. Definitely, we are working on it. You see the work that we have already done the work needed to do on the skill, on the field, and on the net. Now, these things are completely on us, it is a mental thing. The faster we can actually realize this, and of course, we are realizing; the sooner we can fix them by talking among ourselves, the better it will be for the team.

Roney: Well, Shukta didn't play today, was it due to an injury or a tactical reason that the match was shortened? And the second question, you have a gap of 5-6 days ahead, so, what specific work would you like to do during this time?

Jyoti: No, the best eleven was decided based on the playing conditions. Which is why the batting order was set a little differently so that we could play in that way. And we will get a long time to prepare for it, in that time maybe we can work better individually, player by player. We will try to work on those taking some more time, to fix the shortcomings that we have. I think we can come back stronger.

Sazzad: Thank you so much. Nigar, Sazzad here. [Yes.] We have seven matches in the World Cup. I mean, it's a long way to go. We saw a lot of experiments in the last two matches. In fact, starting from the XI, in today's match, five bowlers were changed in just ten overs. Aren't we in a hurry? I mean, starting from the XI, the batting order - in everything, there were so many changes in two matches - can these hurt Bangladesh a little bit, since there are five matches left? What do you think, Captain?

Jyoti: We just had two changes today. There must be a specific reason for that. Because we had to play curl (reduced) overs, we were discussing this when we were at the hotel. In which direction should we go so that it would be beneficial for the team. So, that's where the changes came from. Of course, if we were to play full-overs, it would be different. Because you have to understand where or in which position you should play a player so that the team will be beneficial. So from that perspective, we formed our XI. Plus if you say why the five bowlers were used in ten overs? It was part of a plan that we will use different bowlers in the power play of five overs. Because when a batsman plays a bowler, he understands what he is trying to do. So, my plan was that I would try to surprise them by using different bowlers. Basically, it was a plan. This is why bowlers have been used in this way. Because it was a very short game. If it would work out by doing something different then we would be benefitted from that.

Reporter: When you talked to us about your favorite movies you talked about Encanto being one of them. Does it feel like there's a magic in this team, it just some step away from being one of the best teams in the world.

My second question is we all saw your face, when Farzana scored her half century - how proud moment it was for you as a captain?

Nigar: Obviously, I'm very proud of Farzana - because she's getting her first half century in the World Cup and the way she batted in there - It was brilliant. I guess for here I think we got a decent total - So I really appreciate that and I hope that she will get carry forward that and obviously, I believe that I have a good balling and batting unit and we have a good side and we're coming here for that - and we already have proven a lot of things - like we did very well against South Africa, and we have done really well as a bowling unit. And today I think there are a lot of important things - We did well in batting also, in today match you can see that two three batters have done very well.

So I think we have that potential to do well and we don't want to give ourselves like any kind of chance that we do not want to be disappointed. We want to move forward and we want to play well.

Reporter: How do you reflect on today's game and obviously you're experiencing proper Dunedin weather and you made a really positive start but just weren't able to get over the line.

Nigar: Yeah, I think first of all - I would like to say this is not the good playable condition. Because there was a lot of rain over there that but still we played over there. And sometimes that the bowlers couldn't bowl the ball and the fielder couldn’t watch the ball very well, and I was bit worried about the safety of my fielders because we have five more matches to go. So it was very difficult for us to play in this kind of condition. But still, I think, in this condition, if we could play 27 Ove match. I think we could play 50 Over match as well, then we had a chance to fight back actually. So but still I think we have a lot of positive things over here. And then we want to take all the positives from here and want to implement in the next match.****

Anwesha: Hi Captain! Anwesha Ghosh here from ESPN Cricinfo. The point you just mentioned is that you were worried about the safety of your players. So, when you see a situation like this on the ground, should the players' safety be given more importance, or should it be taken away for the sake of having a game? For you as the captain of the Bangladesh team, which would be the right decision?

Jyoti: If my players are safe then I can play the rest of the matches. The safety of those I fight with is more important to me. Because now if you say it could be an excuse, it was raining in the first inning. But it wasn't. The condition in the first innings was not that bad since the rain was not so heavy. Even then the condition was better, at least when batted. And when we were fielding and bowling then the rain was heavy. Because here we bring a very limited number of players to the World Cup. It becomes very difficult for us when a player gets injured suddenly. Because we have come from far away. And coming here from Bangladesh and then put her in quarantine for ten days to join us, by the time the tournament will be ended actually.। If we think from this perspective, players' safety and security are very important. Because we also have to think about the future. We have many other schedules after the world cup where we need these players. So from that perspective, I think that players' safety and security are more important.

Anwesha: Captain, the points you have mentioned are very important. If this happens to you or to other teams in the future, did you address this with match referees, or other officials, that it might not be good for you to play or any such thing? Was there any discussion with the match officials?

Jyoti: Yes, when we were on the ground, of course, we asked the umpire if we would continue the game in this condition. So they kept saying that you should continue the game. On the field, I don't have much to do in that case but by being concerned off the field, we can work on this as much as we can and talk to minimize it. Definitely, we will let the match referee know if the condition is like this or what we can do next time to make it better.

Anwesha: Captain, If you could just say how Bangladesh women players have been working in their power heating area for the last 3-4 years of the World Cup? Because of that one aspect, you are missing a little, Do you agree on that? And how did you do the training or how did you work with the coaches to solve this issue?

Jyoti: Of course. We played in the last 3-4 T20 world cup. Yes, those of us who come from Asian countries, don't have that kind of strength, we have to build it, we have to build up that strength. We work with trainers, and they work hard on how to increase strength. If I look at my team then of course I would say, I would like to mention those names like Sobhana Mostary who plays very well on the Power-hitting. Opener Shamima Sultana, also plays very well, she is a power-hitting batsman and if I mention Ritu Moni and many others like her, like Jahanara Alam can play very well with power shots at the last. From that perspective, I would say that before the number was very small. The number of power hitters was very low, but it's increasing day by day. Because our coaches are working on those things, on the small steps. In these matches, we have to score 80-90 runs in the last 10 overs in the 50 overs matches also. In that case, we need power hitters. so we set the batting order in such a way that the batsmen can quickly add runs in that situation. And that's why the cricket board continuously kept us inside the camp for the last year and a half or two. Since we've played more of the T20 formats, we've worked more on this power-hitting or how to make more runs with fewer balls.

Anwesha: Thank you, Captain. All the best for the next matches. [Thank you.]

Reporter: So my first question is like you promoted Farzana to open the batting today. And it worked out really well. So what was the logic behind that? And will we see her open through the rest of the tournament? That's the first question.

And the second question is like your play against New Zealand's faster bowlers really stood out and you were very good but was it a little disappointing to lose three wickets against Amy who is probably a part timer in New Zealand six choice bowlers. So yeah, those two questions.

Nigar: Yeah, thank you, I think yeah, if I can tell about Farzana - today the scenario was different, I think because the over was curtailed. That's why we tried Farzana in the opening side. So she did very well, but I don't think so - I don't know. Maybe later on in this yeah, whatever the situation, the condition demands we are going with it.

And I think our batter handled the New Zealand bowlers very well - the fast bowlers and sometimes the people are concerned about maybe we couldn’t adjust to their bowling but they did handle their bowlers very well. And I think yeah, it was quite disappointing because we handled their three top bowlers very well, but we gave our wicket in a part time bowlers - So it was very disappointing. I think we need to work on that and how we control and how we more concentrate on our batting in that kind of situation.

Reporter: Thank you so much, and all the best for the rest of the tournament.