Bangladesh eye direct world cup qualification in West Indies series

Regardless of the pitch, conditions, or the opposition, Nigar Sultana has one clear objective for the upcoming series against the West Indies: securing four points at any cost. For the Bangladesh captain, this is not just another bilateral series but a critical opportunity to earn a direct ticket to the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup.

Bangladesh will fly to the Caribbean on Monday to play their final series of the Women's Championship cycle. Ahead of their departure, the team is fine-tuning preparations at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

Speaking at a press conference before Saturday's training session, Nigar outlined her team's goals for the series.

"Our primary aim is to secure four points and qualify directly for the World Cup. We are confident, especially given how dominantly we played in our last ODI series," she said.

"Many people might have various calculations in mind, but I've given a clear message to my team: we need to play good cricket there and win the series. Other scenarios will follow naturally. Our focus is firmly on winning the matches."

Bangladesh need at least three points from the series to guarantee a direct qualification for the World Cup, set to be held in India later this year. They are currently seventh in the standings, with 19 points from 24 matches.

Their primary competition is New Zealand, who sit in sixth place with 21 points from their allotted 24 matches. Meanwhile, the West Indies, with just 14 points from 21 matches, are out of contention for direct qualification.

For Bangladesh, it all comes down to this series against the West Indies. Winning at least two matches will secure their World Cup ticket. Anything less will mean having to compete in the qualification tournament.

The conditions, however, will be unfamiliar territory for Nigar and her team. Apart from the 2018 T20 World Cup, Bangladesh have not played any matches in the Caribbean.

Most players from that squad are no longer part of the team, leaving Nigar with a relatively inexperienced group to tackle this crucial challenge. However, the captain emphasised focusing on their own strengths rather than overthinking the conditions.

"Playing anywhere involves challenges. You can't expect things to come easy. Challenges will always be there, and we need to overcome them. The most important thing is to remain positive," Nigar remarked.

She added that the team is unified in their determination to qualify directly for the World Cup.

"Our men's team recently played in the West Indies, so we have quite a bit of knowledge about the wicket in St Kitts. Although most players from the 2018 squad are not here, it depends on how the team approaches the series."

"Is this just another series, or is it a chance to secure our World Cup ticket? From what I've seen during practice, everyone is more than fully committed. Nobody wants to play in the qualifiers, so the team's focus is unmatched."

The ODI series comprises three matches, scheduled for 19, 21, and 24 January, followed by a three-match T20I series on 27, 29, and 31 January. All matches will be held at Warner Park, St Kitts.