Bangladesh women will try to avoid the wooden spoon in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 when they lock horn with Sri Lanka in their last Group B match at the Sylhet International Stadium at 3.30pm today.
Playing in an ICC global event for the first time in history, Bangladesh women have failed to win any of their three matches in the tournament so far while Sri Lanka managed to earn a victory over India. Bangladesh must win against Sri Lanka with a better run rate to keep their hopes alive to qualify for the next World Twenty20 and if they lose today, they will fight for the 9th place with Ireland in the play-off on April although that result would not have any effect to qualify for the next edition.
If the home side manages to win today and finishes fourth in group B, they will play with the third-placed team from group A for the 7th place decider play-off on April 2.
All the equations suggest Bangladesh have to put up an extraordinary display for a victory to get the ticket for next World T20 scheduled to be held in India in 2016. But they need their out-of-form batsmen to shine on the occasion for that.
Bangladesh skipper Salma Khatun admitted that it would be a do or die match for them and expected her batters to return to form. “Our batting has not been satisfactory in the tournament so far and we are working hard to improve the batting. Hopefully they will click and put a good performance,” said the all-rounder.
Shashikala Siriwardene, the Sri Lanka captain, wants to finish the group stage on a positive note. “We have already defeated India and if we can beat them (Bangladesh), it would be a memorable journey for us in the World T20 although it would not be easy considering the support of home crowd they will get during the game,” said the all rounder who scored an unbeaten 38 and took two wickets against England in their previous match.