The Bangladesh women’s cricket team is facing a period of introspection following their exit from the ongoing Asia Cup T20 after a defeat to India. Coaches closely involved in the development of the women’s game have identified a lack of power-hitting capability, an over-reliance on a few key individuals, and concerns regarding pace bowling and fitness as the primary obstacles to international success.
Since their 2018 Asia Cup triumph, the team has struggled to maintain momentum, recording one fifth-place finish and two semi-final exits in the last three editions. Furthermore, they have never advanced past the first round of the T20 World Cup, securing only two victories across their first 13 matches in the tournament’s main stages.
The disparity in T20 proficiency was evident during the 2026 Asia Cup semifinal against India. Bangladesh managed only 26 for 1 during the Powerplay, while India reached 45 for 1. India subsequently dominated the final four overs, scoring 42 runs for three wickets, whereas Bangladesh could only muster 25 runs for the loss of two wickets.
A significant concern remains the team’s inability to clear the ropes, an issue highlighted by the following data regarding six-hitting since January 2025
- Bangladesh have recorded 55 sixes, placing them ahead of Pakistan (50), England (45), New Zealand (43), Australia (41), and Sri Lanka (40).
- However, during the current Asia Cup, Bangladesh have managed only four sixes.
- India leads the tournament with 25 sixes.
- Sri Lanka follows with five.
An anonymous coach noted that Bangladesh must increase boundary-hitting to compensate for struggles in the middle overs. The team relies heavily on Shorna Akter for power-hitting in the death overs; when she fails to execute, the team often struggles to reach competitive totals of 130-140. The coach suggested that the squad needs to integrate two or three additional power hitters to support experienced middle-order players like Nigar Sultana Joty, Sobhana Mostary, and Supta.
Beyond batting, the pace-bowling unit requires expansion. The team is currently overly dependent on Marufa Akter. Experts argue that the side needs to recruit fresh talent, including additional pace bowlers and a pace-bowling all-rounder, to compete on the better surfaces encountered in international cricket. Developing a pipeline from age-level cricket, such as the U-19 setup, is considered urgent to ensure new players can adapt quickly to the requirements of the T20 format.
Fitness and mindset are also critical areas for improvement. Coaches emphasized that players must take personal responsibility for their conditioning, noting that in modern T20 cricket, being strong and quick can save or add 10-12 runs per game. There is also a pressing need to foster an environment where players are not paralyzed by a fear of failure. To move beyond their comfort zones, cricketers must be backed by management, allowing them the freedom to experiment and grow without the constant pressure of immediate repercussions. The report also notes that since January 2025, India have hit 100 sixes, the most by any team. The report also notes that south Africa have 77, West Indies 63 and Namibia 60. The report also notes that this is a very important point that we need to address,” the coach said on the condition of anonymity. The report also notes that when she clicks they get to totals around 130-140 and it is a thing that should be looked at for the future. The report also notes that especially in T20 cricket, is those who are strong, fit and quick, they are adding 10-12 runs be it in batting, or fielding where if you can save five runs it really (makes a difference),” he said, the reality of international cricket.
