Nigar maps out target to overhaul Bangladesh’s poor T20 WC record

Published : Sunday, 24 May, 2026 at 7:35 PM Count : 10

Bangladesh women’s captain Nigar Sultana Joty believes a successful campaign at the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup can serve as a catalyst for local players to break into lucrative global franchise tournaments.

The national team suffer from a severe lack of regular fixtures and international exposure throughout the calendar year. While women's franchise leagues are expanding rapidly worldwide, Bangladeshi cricketers are consistently overlooked.

Nigar views the world stage as the definitive platform to alter that narrative.

"Our team receive very little exposure," she stated during a press conference in Dhaka on Sunday. "The World Cup is a massive stage where the entire cricket community is watching. Delivering strong performances here forces people to talk about Bangladesh cricket, and that is our primary goal."

The skipper emphasised that individual brilliance in the tournament will directly translate into personal career advancements for her squad. "When players excel individually on this stage, global opportunities naturally follow. The team is in a very positive frame of mind. A strong showing is vital for the collective growth of women's cricket in our country, but it will also immensely benefit the players on a personal level."

The tournament is set to commence in England on June 12. In preparation, the Bangladesh squad will depart Dhaka in two separate flights tonight and tomorrow morning.

They will initially land in Scotland to play a preparatory T20 triangular series involving the hosts and the Netherlands to acclimate to European conditions.

"We have a great chance to win against the Netherlands and Pakistan," Nigar analysed. "We also have a lot of experience playing India, and we have beaten both India and South Africa in the past. Our strategy is to focus on one game at a time. Securing an early victory will give us the rhythm we need to carry us through the tournament."

Bangladesh enter the tournament desperate to correct a poor historical record, having managed just three wins from 25 matches across previous editions.

To secure a historic semi-final berth from a demanding group featuring Australia, India, South Africa, Pakistan, and the Netherlands, Nigar has mapped out a target of three group-stage victories.

FP/MI