Bangladesh hope to adapt quickly to unfamiliar conditions
DHAKA (92 News) - The ICC Women’s World T20 2018 in November will be Bangladesh's first time playing in the Caribbean, but they’re up for the challenge.
The team left for the tournament on Monday, 23 October, and are hoping that travelling to the West Indies early will give them a chance to get used to the conditions ahead of their opening match against the hosts and defending champions on 9 November in Guyana.
“We are going there 10-12 days ahead to adapt to the conditions as we are not aware of the Caribbean conditions. I hope we will be able to give our best,” Salma Khatun, the experienced captain, told presspersons ahead of the team’s departure.
Bangladesh’s preparations at home for the event included practice matches against boys’ teams and a limited-overs series with Pakistan. They lost the Twenty20 Internationals 3-0, but fought back with a win in the only one-day international.
Coming as it did after their victory in the ICC Women’s World T20 Qualifier in the Netherlands, a bilateral series win in Ireland and a historic Asia Cup triumph where they defeated India twice, it gave the team more confidence in their abilities.
As ever, the spinners, led by Rumana Ahmed and Khadija Tul Kubra, will be expected to play a big role.
“Our spin department is very strong and at the same time our fast bowlers have also done well. Let's see how the pitch behaves for our spinners and I hope we will be able to utilise them properly,” Khatun said.
Team manager Nazmul Abedin Fahim added, “We have seen the effects of spinners both in South Africa and Ireland. Although those conditions were unlike our conditions, the girls did very well in those places.
"I think West Indies conditions will not be a huge problem for them.”
