Bangladesh women's cricket team has undertaken what is arguably their most thorough preparation ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in the UAE, starting from today (Thursday). This preparation has included numerous international matches, a domestic T20 tournament, and extensive training camps, all aimed at achieving success in the global tournament.
The real test, however, will be whether they can capitalise on this preparation and deliver their best performance in the 10-team competition. The ninth edition of the World Cup will begin with Bangladesh taking on Scotland in Sharjah on Thursday, with the match set to start at 4:00 PM Bangladesh time.
Despite their 2018 Asia Cup triumph, the Tigresses have yet to make a significant impact in either white-ball format, although they have managed to secure occasional victories against major teams in bilateral series.
On the world stage, their performance has been less than stellar, with the lowest win percentage (9.52) in T20 World Cups among teams that have played at least 20 matches.
Adding to their challenges is the looming threat of setting an unwanted record for the longest losing streak in T20 World Cups, currently held by Ireland with 17 consecutive losses. Bangladesh is just one defeat away from matching this record, a streak that dates back to the 2016 T20 World Cup. Therefore, concerns about another disappointing World Cup campaign are not without merit.
Ranked ninth in the WT20I rankings, the Tigresses often struggle against most teams due to weaknesses in batting technique, a lack of power-hitting, and an over-reliance on captain Nigar Sultana Joty. Another significant issue is their limited experience against top teams, particularly their group opponents, England and the West Indies, whom they have faced only three times each in previous T20 World Cups, losing all six matches.
Despite these hurdles, there are some positives for the Tigresses. Their bowling attack, especially the spin department, looks promising with consistent performers like Nahida Akter, Fahima Khatun, and Rabeya Khan. Last year, Bangladesh achieved their first T20I victory against South Africa, another group opponent, on South African soil, and drew the three-match series 1-1.
The team features a good blend of youth and experience, and if they can effectively utilise this combination, captain Joty's goal of reaching the semifinals could become a reality.
