Concerns mount for Tigresses ahead of T20 World Cup

The recent three-match WT20I series in Sylhet has raised eyebrows and sparked concern over the Bangladesh women's team, with just over a month remaining before the Women's T20 World Cup in England and Wales.

Traditionally, the Tigresses have yet to establish themselves as a formidable force in T20 cricket, and apart from their 2018 Asia Cup triumph, they have achieved little of note in the format.

Moreover, their conservative approach has often left them under pressure. The team is yet to successfully chase a target of 150 in T20Is, despite playing nearly 150 matches over the past 14 years.

Against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh won the toss in all three matches but opted to field first -- despite their struggles while chasing. Additionally, captain Nigar Sultana Joty endured a lean run, scoring just 20 runs across three innings, further compounding concerns.

Chief selector Sazzad Ahmed Shipon acknowledged the team’s struggles but said the series was used as an opportunity to experiment ahead of the global tournament.

“We changed the team in every match to try different combinations. For the first time in a while, we even played without a leg-spinner in the last match. Even though we aren’t typically strong in chasing, we chose to chase because we will face strong teams in the World Cup and need to be prepared for big targets,” he told The Daily Star yesterday.

“To be honest, we are better in the ODI format. We aren’t as strong in T20s because we have very few hard-hitting players who can clear the boundary,” he added, while also expressing confidence in Joty.

“She scored runs in the ODIs. In T20s, we are trying a new combination. We tried Juairiya and Dilara as openers, and both performed well in the powerplay, scoring at nearly 10 runs per over. The issue is our batting pattern -- we need to adjust it so we can accelerate and maintain intensity until the end of the innings.”

Shipon informed that Bangladesh will finalise their squad for the World Cup on May 5, though it will not be disclosed immediately. He added that the same squad touring Scotland for the tri-series is likely to feature in the World Cup.

Bangladesh are expected to leave for Scotland on May 24 or 25. Prior to that, they will hold a training camp in Mirpur, focusing on match scenarios.

“There is a camp starting on May 12 for eight days, until the 20th,” Shipon said. “The board hasn’t finalised the venue yet due to limited availability during the Premier League. We will likely stay in Dhaka and use the indoor facilities or academy grounds.”

The women’s tri-series, featuring Bangladesh, Scotland and the Netherlands, will begin on May 28. Bangladesh will open their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on June 14 in Birmingham.