This will be just Bangladesh’s second World Cup campaign. ©Getty
Bangladesh will be making their second appearance in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, after debuting in 2022 in New Zealand. Despite finishing only 7th in the ICC Women’s Championship Cycle from 2022/25 with eight wins in 24 ODIs, they have won seven of their last 11 ODIs. In the warm-up fixtures, they did pick up a narrow one-run win over Sri Lanka with their other game against South Africa ending in a No-result.
11 out of the 15 players in the squad played in the World Cup Qualifiers in Pakistan earlier this year, in April, where Bangladesh finished second behind the hosts. Fargana Hoque is Bangladesh’s leading run-getter in ODIs with 1881 runs and is followed by skipper Nigar Sultana and Sharmin Akhter in second and third position. However, in the last 12 months, Bangladesh have scored only at 4.45 runs per over and the team would try to push the scoring rate in a World Cup where record scores are expected.
On the bowling front, Nahida Akter and Fahima Khatun are the leading spinners for the team with the former also being the country’s leading wicket-taker in ODIs. Rabeya Khan and Shorna Akter can roll their arm over as well while Fariha Trisna and Marufa Akter are their experienced pace bowling options.
On a gutsy note, Bangladesh have also named Rubya Haider Jhelik in the squad, a wicketkeeper-batter yet to play her first ODI but had debuted in T20Is earlier. 17-year-old Nishita Akter Nishi is the youngest member of the squad who is a finger-spinner and has played two ODIs so far with two wickets to her name and will be an interesting watch heading into the tournament.
Barring their opening fixture, Bangladesh play the rest of their games in India with scores expected to be high and the batters will be expected to provide the much-needed impetus to their innings. They are also winless against four of the sides in the World Cup and would look to set the record straight.
Bangladesh might not have heavy expectations on their shoulders such as their subcontinental neighbours India but they will have a point to prove that they have what it takes to put in performances match-in match-out against the elites of the women’s game.
Squad: Nigar Sultana Joty (c), Nahida Akter (vc) Fargana Hoque, Sharmin Akhter, Rubya Haider, Sumaiya Akter, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Rabeya Khan, Ritu Moni, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Fariha Trisna, Nishita Akter Nishi, Shanjida Akter Meghla
Fargana, Sultana and Sharmin will be mainstays at the top of the order while Nahida and Fahima will play a crucial role with the ball. Mostary is a good all-round option who can add some valuable runs in the middle-order alongside Ritu Moni and Rabeya Khan. Trisna and Marufa will carry the pace bowling attack.
How they qualified: Through the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier
Bangladesh qualified by the skin of their teeth. They were tied with West Indies on 6 points but bettered their run-rate by 0.013. They beat Thailand, Scotland and Ireland before losing to West Indies and Pakistan in their final two games.
Keep an eye on – Nahida Akter
The vice-captain of Bangladesh – a slow left-arm bowler – made her debut at the tender age of 15 in 2015. Now 25, Akter has 69 wickets in 54 ODIs and is the highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh in the format at a career economy of 3.82. Even in the last 12 months, she has picked up 16 wickets in 11 outings and could be the key in terms of how Bangladesh’s campaign pans out.
Marquee match – England
The two sides might have met only once before in ODIs, in the previous World Cup when England won by 100 runs, but this fixture holds a lot more significance for Bangladesh. After playing Pakistan in their opening game against whom they have a 50:50 record, Bangladesh would want to break their jinx of not beating the heavyweights and England are the first of those in their way. The game against England could go a long way in defining their campaign.
Where they finished in 2022: League Stage – 7th
Bangladesh finished seventh three years ago with only a solitary win in the previous World Cup. Their only victory came against wooden spooners Pakistan.
Predicted finish: League Stage – Bangladesh begin their campaign against Pakistan but they are yet to register an ODI win against Australia, New Zealand, England, and Sri Lanka.
Full league stage schedule:
Bangladesh vs Pakistan, Thursday, October 2, Colombo
Bangladesh vs England, Tuesday, October 7, Guwahati
Bangladesh vs New Zealand, Friday, October 10, Guwahati
Bangladesh vs South Africa, Monday, October 13, Vizag
Bangladesh vs Australia, Thursday, October 16, Vizag
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Monday, October 20, Navi Mumbai
Bangladesh vs India, Sunday, October 26, Navi Mumbai
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