Women cricketers depart for SA Games

A confident Bangladesh women’s cricket team left Dhaka for Kathmandu Friday, ahead of the 13th edition of the South Asian Games, slated for Nepal from December 1-10.

Women’s cricket has been added to the SA Games roster for the first time in history, and the Tigresses have been pitted in Group B with Pakistan and Maldives.

Group A comprises host Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.

Asia Cup champion Bangladesh are confident of winning the gold medal, said pacer Jahanara Alam prior to their departure.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has announced the amount of reward money for the medal winners of the upcoming South Asian Games 2019 with the individual gold, silver and bronze medalists in Nepal promised Tk6lakhs, Tk3lakhs and Tk1lakh respectivelyhttps://t.co/xrceJSN9v4#SAG

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) November 28, 2019

"We got the opportunity to play in the SA Games for the first time. We’re eager to make this event memorable, and to do so, we’ve to make a good start to the event. We’ve to make a good start to the competition. Our main goal in the event is to win the gold medal," Jahanara told the media.

The women in red and green will take on Maldives Monday before taking on Pakistan Thursday.

The Group A and B champions and runner-ups will advance to the semi-finals while the final will be held on December 9.

Bangladesh squad

Salma Khatun (C), Nigar Sultana, Jahanara Alam, Ayesha Rahman, Fargana Haque, Murshida Khatun, Sanjida Islam, Shabnam Mostary, Fahima Khatun, Shamima Sultana, Nahida Akter, Khadija-tul Kubra, Ritu Moni, Rabeya and Puja Chakrabarty