Bangladesh women’s cricket team haven’t tasted victory in the last two editions of the World T20I and captain Salma Khatun said they want to change that in the 2020 WT20I down under.
During the team photo session at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka Thursday, Salma said they would be targeting a win or two in Group A where host Australia, India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka make up the numbers.
In a total of 13 matches in the WT20I, the Tigresses have been victorious just twice – against Ireland and the Lankans in 2014 at home.
She added, “Australia and New Zealand are strong opponents. However, they don’t know about us, neither do we know anything about them. When we take the field only then would we understand who is superior. We will try to play smart cricket.”
Although the women in red and green have never faced the trans-Tasman rivals in the global T20I event, they have encountered India and Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh beat India to clinch the Asia Cup but vice captain Rumana Ahmed said the victory over their sub-continent rival is very much in the past now.
@BCBtigers president Nazmul Hasan said it is a matter of great pride to see the women’s cricket team take part in the World T20I, scheduled to be held in Australia from February 21 to March 8 this year.https://t.co/fQcykRSqKH#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #NAZMUL
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) January 30, 2020
She said, “Asia Cup is long gone. After that we have played a lot of games. We will play against big teams in the WT20I. We’ll try to play well. Australia and New Zealand are very good teams. And even though we beat India twice in the Asia Cup, it would be a tough match against them. We hope we can do something good against Sri Lanka.”
Rumana added, “We have really improved our batting. Hope we bat well in the WT20I.
“A few days ago I went to Melbourne (for ICC event). Wickets over there are batting friendly. If we can post good totals, it would benefit our bowlers.”
The Tigresses will face India in their opening match on February 24 in Perth before locking horns with Australia on February 27 in Canberra, New Zealand on February 29 in Melbourne and Sri Lanka on March 2 at the MCG.
Prior to that, the women in red and green will undergo a 13-day conditioning camp in Gold Coast, Australia in order to acclimatize themselves to the conditions.
The Tigresses will play a total of five practice matches before the main event – three organized by Bangladesh Cricket Board and two by the International Cricket Council – against Thailand and Pakistan.
