Nigar Sultana has expressed her desire for Bangladesh to secure a victory in their opening match against Scotland on October 3 in the women's T20 World Cup, setting the stage for the rest of the tournament. She highlighted that winning this first game would be a "huge achievement" for the team, especially considering Bangladesh's record of not having won a match in their last four World Cup appearances, with just one win across five tournaments.
However, Nigar made it clear that Bangladesh isn't underestimating Scotland. "We want to win the first match," she said, adding that it would provide momentum for the team. She noted that once the team gets into a rhythm, they can dream of achieving even more. "We are hungry for it," she stated.
She acknowledged Scotland’s ability to play strong cricket and recognised that no team would make it easy to secure a win. "Teams come to the World Cup with high expectations, and they won't give up without a fight. We are mentally prepared for those challenges," she remarked.
Reflecting on her past World Cup experiences, Nigar admitted that despite playing in four editions, Bangladesh has not managed to secure a win since their 2014 victory over Sri Lanka. She pointed out the importance of turning good performances into wins.
Nigar's ambitions extend beyond the opening game, as she hopes to challenge stronger teams like England, West Indies, and South Africa, all of whom are in their group. The team’s goal is to reach the semi-finals. "To reach the semi-finals, we need to win against these teams," Nigar explained, highlighting the different strategies they have in place for each opponent. She expressed confidence in their spin attack, which has previously helped them defeat South Africa in T20Is.
Although the tournament was originally scheduled to take place in Bangladesh, it was relocated to the UAE due to political unrest. Nigar accepted the change, stating that the team had prepared to play at home, but they are now focusing on adapting to the new conditions. "We played in Abu Dhabi in 2021, and the wickets were good. Sharjah is new for us, but we have practice matches to help us adjust," she noted.
Bangladesh's batting has been a concern, with underwhelming performances in recent home series against India and Australia, and losses in the Asia Cup to India and Sri Lanka earlier this year. Despite this, Nigar remains optimistic, particularly about the contributions from newcomers like Shathi Rani and uncapped player Taj Nehar, who replaced the more experienced Rumana Ahmed.
"Batting is a concern, but we’ve seen improvements," Nigar said, referring to the performances during the ‘A’ team tour of Sri Lanka. She expressed hope that players will continue their form in the World Cup. Taj, although inexperienced, impressed with her intent and ability to hit big shots, while Shathi was the top run-scorer in the Women's National Cricket League.
Bangladesh's strength lies in their spin attack, led by left-arm spinner Nahida Akter and 19-year-old leg-spinner Rabeya Khan, who has taken 14 wickets in 12 T20I matches this year. Nigar praised Rabeya as one of their finest bowlers, saying she has elevated the team's performance with her contributions. "She’s a great fielder, and although she doesn't take batting seriously, she’s maturing slowly," Nigar added, highlighting Rabeya's growing importance in the squad.
With a mix of experience and emerging talent, Bangladesh is aiming for a strong start and a deep run in the tournament.