Nigar Sultana's Tigresses out to break T20 World Cup rut - Bangladesh preview
Nigar Sultana Joty (c) Marufa Akter, Fargana Hoque Pinky, Fahima Khatun, Shorna Akter, Salma Khatun, Jahanara Alam, Shamima Sultana, Murshida Khatun, Nahida Akter, Rumana Ahmed, Lata Mondol, Ritu Moni, Disha Biswas, Sobhana Mostary
Reserves: Rabeya, Sanjida Akther Maghla, Sharmin Akter Supta
12 February v Sri Lanka at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town
14 February v Australia at St George's Park Cricket Ground, Gqeberha
17 February v New Zealand at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town
21 February vs South Africa at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town
Results in the last 10 T20I games (Most recent first): L, L, L, NR, L, L, W, L, W, W
Of all the teams in their group, Bangladesh couldn't have asked for a better opponent to open their T20 World Cup campaign against. Though Sri Lanka are far from push-overs, Bangladesh will fancy their chances against Sri Lanka over the rest of the teams in their group.
Bangladesh have beaten Sri Lanka twice in eight matches in women's T20Is, though the last of those came way back in 2014. Bangladesh will look be looking to end both their ruts dating back to 2014 with a win against Sri Lanka on 12 February.
Nigar Sultana | Bangladesh's fierce leader | 100% Cricket
The Women’s T20 World Cup has not been a happy hunting ground for Bangladesh. In the three editions of the marquee event they have featured in, the Tigresses have failed to make it past the group stages.
Their best finish in the history of the tournament came at home in 2014 where they registered two victories. In the group stages, they finished at the bottom of the group with just one win in four games, thanks to their thrilling three-run triumph over Sri Lanka.
They then emerged victorious in the ninth-place playoff against Ireland in a low-scoring encounter, which until now, has been their last win in Women’s T20 World Cup history.
Batter, wicket-keeper, captain – Nigar Sultana dons many hats for Bangladesh and so far, has found a way to excel in each department.
Sultana has always been earmarked for big things since making her debut in 2015 and she has not only met those expectations but exceeded them with flying colours. The added responsibility of captaincy, which came her way in 2021, seems to only have spurred Sultana on, as she led Bangladesh to their first win in Cricket World Cup history last year against Pakistan.
The skipper has been in terrific white-ball form heading into the Women’s T20 World Cup, having scored the most runs in T20Is as well as ODIs for Bangladesh in 2022. In 17 T20Is last year, she amassed 367 runs at an average of 28.23 while in ODIs, she scored 235 runs in 10 matches.
Still only 25 years of age, Sultana is already viewed as a veteran of the Bangladesh setup with more than 100 caps. Her experience will be crucial if Bangladesh are to win their first T20 World Cup match since 2014 and make it to the semi-finals.
Bangladesh have underperformed in T20 World Cups so far but recent victories in ICC events, which includes a win over Pakistan in the Cricket World Cup last year and more recently, their upset victory over Australia in the U19 T20 World Cup will give them much-needed confidence going into the event.
Bangladesh have four stars – Shorna Akter, Marufa Akter, Dilara Akter and Disha Biswas – from the recent U19 event in their squad for the senior event. Shorna, in particular, was impressive with her big hitting, smashing six sixes throughout the Under-19 tournament.
In a middle order that lacks firepower, the addition of Shorna, who was included in the ICC Team of the Tournament, could make all the difference for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh beat Australia in any ICC event for the first time in the U19 Women's T20 World Cup.
Pitted against Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka in Group A, Bangladesh will have to play out of their skins to move to the next stage but at the same time, could prove to be thorns in the side of those teams vying for the top two spots in the group.
The biggest motivating factor for the Tigresses, as Nigar Sultana revealed before flying out to South Africa, will be to end the barren run in T20 World Cup dating back to 2014. While their aspirations will be bigger, a victory in the first few games of the T20 World Cup could see Sultana’s team play with a lot more freedom.