Nigar Sultana eyes Scotland win to build momentum in T20 World Cup opener

Nigar Sultana has set her sights on Bangladesh defeating Scotland in their opening match of the Women’s T20 World Cup on 3 October, aiming to set a positive tone for the tournament.

However, Sultana made it clear that Bangladesh were not underestimating Scotland. “We want to win the first match,” she emphasised. “It will be a huge achievement for the team. Winning the opening game will give us momentum. We can then dream of something bigger. We are hungry for it.”

She also acknowledged the strength of the Scottish team. “Scotland are playing good cricket. Every team comes into the World Cup with high expectations. They won’t let you win easily and never give up without a fight. We are mentally prepared to face these challenges,” she added.

Reflecting on Bangladesh’s World Cup history, Sultana noted, “I have played in four World Cups but we have never won a match in those editions. The last time we won was in the 2014 tournament against Sri Lanka. We have played well in previous editions, but playing well only matters if you can win.”

Bangladesh have higher ambitions this time around, aiming to challenge the stronger teams in their group, including England, West Indies, and South Africa, with hopes of making it to the semi-finals. “To reach the semi-finals, we have to beat those three teams too,” Sultana explained. “We have different strategies for each opponent. If we can execute our plans well, we have a good chance. We’ve beaten South Africa in T20s before, and while we rarely face England outside of World Cups, it might be challenging for them as well. We all know our spin attack is strong.”

The tournament was initially scheduled to take place in Bangladesh, but political unrest in July and August led the ICC to relocate it to the UAE. “For a long time, we prepared thinking the World Cup would be at home,” Sultana said. “But it’s beyond our control, so there’s no point dwelling on it. We’ve played in Abu Dhabi before, where the pitches were good, and Sharjah is a new venue for us. We have two warm-up matches to get familiar with the conditions.”

Bangladesh’s recent batting struggles, especially in their home series against India and Australia, have been a concern. However, Sultana expressed confidence in newcomers like Shathi Rani and uncapped player Taj Nehar, who was selected ahead of veteran Rumana Ahmed. “Batting is definitely a concern, but we saw some improvements during the ‘A’ team tour of Sri Lanka,” Sultana said. “We still believe we can do well. Most of our players have performed well in domestic tournaments, and I hope they can carry that form into the World Cup.”

“Taj was included for the middle order, despite her lack of experience. We saw her approach and intent in the Women’s National Cricket League, where she demonstrated her ability to hit big shots. In recent international matches, we’ve struggled with intent. Shathi was the highest run-scorer in the league and has the ability to exploit the powerplay. She’s proven herself and earned her spot.”

Bangladesh’s strong spin attack, led by left-arm spinner Nahida Akter and 19-year-old leg-spinner Rabeya Khan, has been a key strength. Sultana praised Rabeya, who has been a standout performer with 14 wickets in 12 T20Is this year. “Rabeya is one of our finest bowlers,” Sultana said. “Her contributions in both formats have taken the team to a new level. She’s also a great fielder and a talented batter, though she doesn’t take her batting seriously. She’s maturing slowly, and after Nahida, Rabeya is the bowler I rely on most in tough situations.”