Tigresses aim to break T20 World Cup duck against Scotland
With no positive memories from previous T20 World Cups, captain Joty is determined to change that narrative this time around.
The Women's T20 World Cup is set to commence on 3 October, with Bangladesh facing Scotland in their opening match. This encounter holds special significance as it marks Scotland's debut in the tournament, presenting a fresh challenge for both teams.
On 2 October, the Bangladesh team engaged in an intense training session to prepare for their upcoming match. However, instead of traditional batting or bowling drills, captain Nigar Sultana Joty and her teammates opted for a unique approach, focusing on football, running, and stretching exercises. They rounded off their preparations with fielding practice, aiming to enhance their overall performance. With no positive memories from previous World Cups, captain Joty is determined to change that narrative this time around.
"I will say, it is much more important for the whole team (this season) because we have played as many World Cups; We couldn't do much to say except for 2014. It is more important for us because we want this World Cup to be one to be reckoned with and one to remember," Joty said.
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As part of their World Cup preparations, Bangladesh competed in two warm-up matches in the UAE. They faced a setback in their first outing, losing to Sri Lanka by 33 runs. However, the team rebounded strongly, securing a 23-run victory against Pakistan in their second match. The captain expressed satisfaction with the team's performance in both batting and bowling, reiterating that their sole aim now is to achieve success in the tournament.
Historically, Bangladesh has enjoyed success against Scotland, having won all previous encounters. With this in mind, the team is eager to start the World Cup on a high note with a win. Nonetheless, Joty and her teammates are fully aware of the need to respect their opponents, refusing to underestimate them despite past victories.
Like Jyoti, head coach Hashan Tillakaratne is confident of a winning start: "Everyone is looking towards this tournament. If you look at the two warm-up matches. The first one did not go as expected, the girls played very well in the second one against Pakistan. The tournament is positive for Bangladesh. Girls are very confident. They look forward to tomorrow's match. The momentum starts from the first match. It is very important that we play our best game and bring positive results. I am sure the girls are confident.
In Group B, Bangladesh will also compete against England, West Indies, and South Africa. Thus, a victory against Scotland is crucial for the team, not only to boost their confidence but also to gather momentum for the challenges ahead in the tournament.
