Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana said on Sunday, May 24, that her side is treating the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England as an opportunity to rewrite their recent fortunes. Speaking at a pre-tournament media interaction at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, the Bangladesh skipper acknowledged the team’s difficult record in the event, while insisting the squad is ready to turn pressure into motivation.
Key takeaways
- Bangladesh have recorded just three wins from 25 matches at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
- Their earlier victories came in the 2014 edition versus Sri Lanka and Ireland, with a later breakthrough against Scotland in 2024.
- Nigar framed the tournament as a chance to “change history” rather than as a source of pressure.
- She said Ritu Moni can operate as an effective third seam-bowling option despite the squad carrying only two frontline pacers.
- The skipper insisted she is fully fit, addressing fitness speculation tied to a right-thumb ligament issue.
“Challenge to change history” mindset for England
Nigar explained that Bangladesh’s journey in the competition has included a long stretch without wins, but she does not view the upcoming World Cup through a fear lens. “We were coming from a long winless road in the T20 World Cup,” she said at the presser. “But I am not seeing this as a pressure. Rather I am taking this as a challenge to change history.”
She also pointed to the emotional lift provided by a key victory in Dubai during the previous T20 World Cup cycle. Nigar said that win brought the team a strong sense of belief, even though Bangladesh were unable to maintain momentum across their remaining games.
Looking ahead, the Bangladesh captain believes the squad has improved since last year. “Since last year, I feel we have developed a much better team combination, and we need to increase our win count,” she said. In her view, T20 cricket has become a format where more players are stepping up than before, and Bangladesh want to translate that into greater consistency on the global stage.
Bowling plan: only two pacers, with Ritu Moni in the seam mix
Nigar addressed questions about Bangladesh’s bowling stocks, particularly why the squad includes only two frontline pacers: Marufa Akhter and Fariha Islam. She said the team’s thinking is to balance roles through Ritu Moni, who can contribute as a pace-bowling allrounder and effectively act as the third seam option when required.
“There is a pace bowling allrounder (Ritu Moni) with two pacers,” Nigar said, adding that England is a place where the conversation about pacers is common. She explained that the main reason comes down to continuity and availability: the two pacers have been with the team for roughly six months, so Bangladesh opted to carry players who are already match-ready for the World Cup.
Nigar further described Marufa’s form as consistent and said Trishna is “almost proven.” She noted that she had seen Trishna’s impact in the previous series and referenced her contribution in the limited opportunities she received during one or two matches, which reinforced the captain’s belief in the selection. “So more or less we are taking those two pacers who are ready to play,” Nigar added. “It’s high time we maintain these two cricketers and make sure that they are available for the World Cup.”
Fitness update: “I am hundred percent fit”
Nigar also spoke directly about fitness speculation that had previously influenced her approach to domestic cricket. She said she is fully fit and eager to play, clarifying that the issue relates to her right thumb rather than a broader concern.
“I don’t know why this question is always coming up,” she said. “Let me tell you the truth, I don’t have a ligament in my right thumb as it was torn.” She added that she has been playing for many years with the condition and questioned whether anyone else had been aware of it.
According to Nigar, every cricketer has to manage some level of niggle, and no one can claim to be completely free of injury. She emphasised that she has been selected for the World Cup and that small issues can be managed without affecting performance on the field.
She also explained that she skipped the last edition of the National Cricket League (NCL) to focus on fitness while dealing with a long-standing injury. “I am hundred percent fit and I have been selected in the World Cup team,” Nigar said, before reiterating that the adjustments being made are minor and will not have an impact during matches.
