Tigresses leave country for Women's T20 WC

The Bangladesh Women's team left the country today to participate in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Bangladesh were supposed to be the host of the showpiece event but due to the political unrest in the country, the ICC shifted the tournament to UAE. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) though remains its hosts, partnering with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to ensure the successful completion of the event.

The Women's team however hoped to reach semifinal this time around even though they have been win-less in this tournament for the last one decade. Their one and only victory in the tournament came back in 2014 when they hosted the marquee tournament. The Tigresses defeated Ireland in a ninth-place play-off match in Sylhet.

Since that event, Bangladesh played four more editions in this tournament but found them in losing end every time. In those four editions, they played 16 matches in total but the victory remained elusive. Bangladesh's opponent in the first match is Scotland against whom they have never lost a match despite playing four games.

"To get into the rhythm, winning in the first match is always important. We are quite aware of our dismal record in the T20 World Cup. So we want to win the first match. It will be a huge achievement for the team," Captain Nigar Sultan Joty said earlier. "I was part of the last four editions of the tournament and found myself in losing end every time. The last time we won was in the 2014 tournament. We have played well in previous editions but playing well only means something when you can win."

Joty is however set to become the first Bangladeshi women's cricketer to play 100 WT20I in the Scotland game. Joty believes if they can break the defeat jinx, they are capable of reaching semifinal. "We are capable of winning against any team if we can put our best performance. We have plans up in the sleeve for every team. We rarely face off England, only in World Cups, so it might be difficult for them too. We all know that we have a good spin attack."

Bangladesh will kick off their campaign against Scotland on October 3 in their Group B match in Sharjah before they lock horns with England at the same venue on October 5. They will then take on West Indies and South Africa on October 11 and 13 in Sharjah. Group A includes six-time champions Australia, along with India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, while Group B comprises Bangladesh, England, South Africa, West Indies, and Scotland. The top two sides from each group will qualify for the semis, scheduled on October 17 and 18 while the final will be held in Dubai on October 20.