Bangladesh batter Sharmin Akhter Supta has stressed that her team must possess the internal conviction to defeat India if they hold any aspirations of clinching the Asia Cup title. Following a narrow victory over the UAE that secured their place in the final four, Bangladesh is set to face their regional rivals at the Dubai International Stadium this Thursday, September 10.
Reflecting on the challenge ahead, Sharmin noted that facing India is an inevitable hurdle in the pursuit of the championship. She emphasized that self-belief is the cornerstone of their campaign, stating that if the squad does not genuinely believe they can overcome such a formidable opponent, their dreams of winning the tournament remain out of reach. She added that the prospect of playing a major team like India naturally generates a positive energy within the camp, which she hopes will translate into a high-quality performance on the field.
Sharmin drew inspiration from the 2018 Asia Cup, where Bangladesh famously defeated India twice—first in the group stage and again in the final—to lift the trophy. While history shows that India has dominated the head-to-head record since that tournament, winning 12 of their 13 subsequent T20I encounters, the right-handed batter remains undeterred. She maintains that nothing is impossible and that the team’s primary strength, their bowling, can be the deciding factor if supported by a disciplined batting effort.
Regarding her individual preparation, Sharmin explained that she avoids overthinking the stature of the opposition or the reputation of specific bowlers. She believes that matches are won or lost based on execution on the day, noting that even elite bowlers can have off days. Her focus remains on adhering to a well-structured team plan and ensuring that the squad stays present in the moment rather than worrying about external expectations.
Meanwhile, bowler Nahida Akter addressed the team’s batting performance during their 34-run win against the UAE, where Bangladesh was restricted to 103-7. The innings was salvaged by a 42-run partnership between Sharmin, who top-scored with 38 off 31 balls, and Nahida, who added 16 not out from 26 deliveries. Nahida attributed the low total to the nature of the pitch, which she described as a slow-track surface where 120–130 runs would have been a more competitive target.
Despite the recent struggles, Nahida expressed full confidence in the batting unit’s ability to bounce back. She acknowledged that the team is well aware of India’s batting prowess and has developed a specific bowling strategy to counter it. The squad is now focused on executing these plans effectively, with the understanding that in a knockout semifinal, the historical reputation of an opponent becomes secondary to the performance delivered during the match itself. The report also notes that bangladesh batter Sharmin Akhter Supta said on Wednesday (September 9) that the team can’t be dreaming of becoming Asia Cup champions without having the belief within to beat India. The report also notes that “When playing against India, there’s naturally a strong positive vibe among everyone to perform well, as India is a big name in Asian cricket. The report also notes that “In a knockout game, you have to treat whichever opponent you face as a tough team. The report also notes that aim to minimize mistakes on that given day, and play strictly to win, you have to play with enjoyment. The report also notes that in a semifinal, how big a team is doesn’t really matter all that much,” she added, at the end of the day. The report also notes that since that final, Bangladesh and India faced each other on 13 occasions in the T20I format where Bangladesh could earn only one win, while India collected 12 wins.
