Bangladesh women’s cricket captain Nigar Sultana Joty has set a clear objective for the upcoming Asia Cup: reaching the final. With the team scheduled to depart on August 26, Joty emphasized that simply qualifying for the knockout stages is no longer the team’s ceiling, as they look to overcome a recurring history of semi-final exits.
The tournament, which begins in Dubai on August 28, places Bangladesh in Group B alongside defending champions Sri Lanka, the UAE, and Indonesia. Joty highlighted the importance of securing the top spot in their group to avoid facing India in the semi-finals, noting that the challenge becomes significantly more difficult when confronting the Indian side at that stage.
Reflecting on the team’s preparation at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Joty expressed confidence in their readiness. The squad has focused on playing multiple practice matches, including two in Sri Lanka, to ensure they are well-acclimated to match conditions. Bangladesh is set to open their campaign against Indonesia on August 31, followed by matches against Sri Lanka on September 6 and the UAE on September 8.
Beyond the immediate goals in the UAE, Joty believes a strong showing in the Asia Cup will provide essential momentum for the Asian Games in Japan. The women’s cricket competition at the Asian Games is scheduled for September at the Korogi Sports Park in Aichi, where Bangladesh will face China in the first quarter-final on September 17.
The skipper noted that success in the Asia Cup would create a significant opportunity to build confidence for the Asian Games. “If we can play the Asia Cup in a better way, it will also create a big opportunity for us in the Asian Games,” Joty stated. She added that the team is targeting a medal, aiming to improve upon their history of success in the event, which includes a silver medal in 2010 and a bronze in 2022.
“If you talk about the Asian Games, our first target is to go there and win a medal,” Joty said. She acknowledged the high expectations surrounding the team, stating that while a medal of any color is the goal, the squad is striving for gold. By adapting to conditions and playing consistent cricket, the team hopes to translate their preparations into success across both major tournaments. The report also notes that and according to their skipper, they are eyeing to break the jinx in the UAE, bangladesh have repeatedly made it to the semi-finals without managing to go one step further. The report also notes that we have played in the semi-finals before and then been knocked out. The report also notes that so we want to break that barrier this time,” Joty said after an official photo session on Monday, the same thing has happened repeatedly. The report also notes that preparation-wise, I think it has been very good,” she added.
