Women set for tough Australian challenge

Bangladesh national women’s cricket team departed Dhaka for Australia Sunday evening for the upcoming ICC Women’s World T20 with 22 days in hand. 

Bangladesh cricketers will travel to Gold Coast through Brisbane and have a 13-day conditional camp before joining the ICC camp from February 14. Bangladesh women cricketers will play five warm-up matches – three arranged by Bangladesh Cricket Board and two by ICC. 

Bangladesh will finish their preparation for the tournament proper playing practice matches against Thailand and Pakistan.

@BCBtigers women’s cricket team haven’t tasted victory in the last two editions of the @T20WorldCup and captain Salma Khatun said they want to change that in the 2020 WT20I down under.https://t.co/LRz4Mbc5a8#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESHCRICKET #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #SALMA

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) January 31, 2020

“I think this tournament will decide our future. Women’s cricket will never need to look back if we can do well here. We will be come into the rankings by winning just one game but our target is to win at least two matches,” said Bangladesh pacer Jahanara Alam to the reporters at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Sunday.

Bangladesh captain Salma Khatun also cited importance of the ranking, “That way we can directly participate in T20 World Cup and not play the qualifiers. We will need to win maximum two matches and that is our primary target in the tournament this time.”

Bangladesh has travelled to Australia with a boost of finishing as champions in the four-team T20 tournament, held in India recently besides rigorous training sessions in Dhaka.

But Jahanara thought they need to work for further improvement. 

@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

“We lack in our batting department specially facing spinners. We worked on that and also on our fielding. We batted against male bowlers in the nets so overall we are prepared well I think. On top of that we are travelling early and this will help us cope with condition,” explained Jahanara.

Bangladesh will start their World T20 campaign taking on India on February 24 in Perth followed by the game against hosts Australia in Canberra on February 27. In the third game, Bangladesh will face New Zealand in Melbourne on February 29 and then Sri Lanka on March 2 at the same venue.