Bangladesh women's cricket team are set to depart for Pakistan on Thursday to feature in the six-team ICC ODI World Cup Qualifiers, scheduled to begin on April 9. Skipper Nigar Sultana Joty remains hopeful that the team can bounce back from recent disappointments in ICC events and strengthen their resolve moving forward with a change in the brand of cricket they play.
The Tigresses secured a place in the last edition of the World Cup after finishing among the top three in the qualifiers. This time, however, only two teams will progress, with formidable opponents like the West Indies and hosts Pakistan in contention.
Following a steady rise in performances against India and Pakistan in 2023, Bangladesh have struggled to maintain consistency. Their historic Asia Cup triumph in 2018 raised expectations, but subsequent ICC events have exposed key shortcomings. When asked whether the team had improved as expected since that victory, Joty was blunt in her response.
"No," she said, offering no sugarcoating.
"When we won the Asia Cup, there was a revolution, and we were doing well. But then, due to COVID, we had fewer matches over two years, which was a huge setback. We had momentum after 2018, with increasing media attention and growing inspiration among players. If we had played more tournaments and maintained continuity, our cricket would have progressed further," she explained, stressing the need for more game time to aid development.
In recent years, the Tigresses' approach has become less effective as teams have found ways to increase their scoring rates. Joty acknowledged the need for a shift in playing style to match the pace of modern cricket.
"Having qualified after playing India and Pakistan under the FTP last time, we stagnated again. It's on us to get out of this situation. At home, we play a certain way, but when we face better surfaces abroad, we struggle. To move forward, individuals need to step out of their comfort zones, adapt to different styles, and play different brands of cricket. In modern cricket, expecting to score 200 and defend it is really difficult on good wickets," she said.
Joty also highlighted the influence of new batting coach David Hemp, who has been working to bring clarity to players' roles ahead of major tournaments. Improving batting intent was a focal point in the recently concluded Women's Dhaka Premier League (WDPL), serving as crucial preparation before the World Cup Qualifiers camp that followed the WDPL and continued even during Eid-ul-Fitr.
"The new coaching staff emphasises having a clear mindset before a tournament. That's why the squad was finalised early, allowing players to focus on their roles rather than worrying about selection or performing in practice matches," she explained.
Recognising the significance of the qualifiers, Joty reiterated the team's commitment, emphasising that ICC events present valuable opportunities, including more frequent international fixtures.
"We skipped Eid celebrations with our families to train because we understand how important this tournament is. When a team competes in an ICC event, it garners attention differently. Playing in the ODI World Cup brings additional opportunities from the ICC, and we know how crucial this is for our careers. The last time we played in the ODI World Cup, we got to play more regularly," she added.
