Bangladesh will bank on their spin resources as they look to challenge the other teams © Getty
Political turmoil in the country meant that Bangladesh, the hosts of T20 World Cup 2024, will now have to consider the UAE as their adopted home for the next few weeks. Although they are still playing in Asia, they will miss the comforts of home and may not be quite the force they could have been had the competition been held in Bangladesh. Nonetheless, Bangladesh will bank on their spin resources as they look to challenge the other teams and take some strides in the tournament which they haven't been able to in the past editions.
April 2014 was the last time Bangladesh tasted victory in the T20 World Cup - with both their wins against Sri Lanka and Ireland coming in Sylhet. With 19 losses in 21 matches, they don't have a record to boast but Bangladesh will be banking on their recent success to turn things around in the multi-team event. A semi-final appearance in the Asia Cup T20, a tied T20I series against South Africa and a series victory against Pakistan before that will give Bangladesh confidence, as will their win in the warm-up match against Pakistan, as they look to cover good ground this time around.
Their batting will revolve around skipper Nigar Sultana and Murshida Khatun, their top two run-getters since 2022, who between them have scored close to 2000 runs and 14 fifties. The Akters - Marufa, Nahida and Shorna - will be the key for them in the bowling department along with Fahima Khatun and Rabeya Khan. Their bowling looks in order but the batters will have to take up the responsibility of leading the team towards good totals. Barring the 192 against Malaysia in the Asia Cup, Bangladesh have crossed 150 once only since 2022 and will need their batters to step up in the big competition.
Form Guide (latest T20I first) - L W W L L
Squad: Nigar Sultana Joty (c), Nahida Akter, Murshida Khatun, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Sobhana Mostary, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Jahanara Alam, Dilara Akter, Taj Nehar, Shathi Rani, Disha Biswas
Keep an eye on
The highest run-getter for Bangladesh in the 2023 Under 19 T20 World Cup, Shorna Akter is only 17 as he gears up for her second T20 World Cup. The all-rounder didn't have the best of numbers in the 2023 edition but has shown a lot of improvement since then. An aggressive batter lower down the order, Shorna's legbreaks will also give variety to Bangladesh's bowling attack.
Marquee Match
"We want to win the first match. It will be a huge achievement for the team. The team will get into a flow when that happens. We can then dream of something bigger. We are hungry for it," said captain Sultana before the World Cup about their opening clash against Scotland. The European side has found a lot of success recently but Bangladesh enjoy a 4-0 head to head record against them and will be looking at their first game to end their losing streak in the T20 World Cup.
Where they finished in 2023
Bottom of Group A table after losses to Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Full league stage schedule
vs Scotland, October 3 in Sharjah at 2 PM local | 3:30 PM IST
vs England, October 5 in Sharjah at 2 PM local | 3:30 PM IST
vs West Indies, October 10 in Dubai at 6 PM local | 7:30 PM IST
vs South Africa, October 12 in Dubai at 6 PM local | 7:30 PM IST
Political turmoil in the country meant that Bangladesh, the hosts of T20 World Cup 2024, will now have to consider the UAE as their adopted home for the next few weeks. Although they are still playing in Asia, they will miss the comforts of home and may not be quite the force they could have been had the competition been held in Bangladesh. Nonetheless, Bangladesh will bank on their spin resources as they look to challenge the other teams and take some strides in the tournament which they haven't been able to in the past editions.
April 2014 was the last time Bangladesh tasted victory in the T20 World Cup - with both their wins against Sri Lanka and Ireland coming in Sylhet. With 19 losses in 21 matches, they don't have a record to boast but Bangladesh will be banking on their recent success to turn things around in the multi-team event. A semi-final appearance in the Asia Cup T20, a tied T20I series against South Africa and a series victory against Pakistan before that will give Bangladesh confidence, as will their win in the warm-up match against Pakistan, as they look to cover good ground this time around.
Their batting will revolve around skipper Nigar Sultana and Murshida Khatun, their top two run-getters since 2022, who between them have scored close to 2000 runs and 14 fifties. The Akters - Marufa, Nahida and Shorna - will be the key for them in the bowling department along with Fahima Khatun and Rabeya Khan. Their bowling looks in order but the batters will have to take up the responsibility of leading the team towards good totals. Barring the 192 against Malaysia in the Asia Cup, Bangladesh have crossed 150 once only since 2022 and will need their batters to step up in the big competition.
Form Guide (latest T20I first) - L W W L L
Squad: Nigar Sultana Joty (c), Nahida Akter, Murshida Khatun, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Sobhana Mostary, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Jahanara Alam, Dilara Akter, Taj Nehar, Shathi Rani, Disha Biswas
Keep an eye on
The highest run-getter for Bangladesh in the 2023 Under 19 T20 World Cup, Shorna Akter is only 17 as he gears up for her second T20 World Cup. The all-rounder didn't have the best of numbers in the 2023 edition but has shown a lot of improvement since then. An aggressive batter lower down the order, Shorna's legbreaks will also give variety to Bangladesh's bowling attack.
Marquee Match
"We want to win the first match. It will be a huge achievement for the team. The team will get into a flow when that happens. We can then dream of something bigger. We are hungry for it," said captain Sultana before the World Cup about their opening clash against Scotland. The European side has found a lot of success recently but Bangladesh enjoy a 4-0 head to head record against them and will be looking at their first game to end their losing streak in the T20 World Cup.
Where they finished in 2023
Bottom of Group A table after losses to Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Full league stage schedule
vs Scotland, October 3 in Sharjah at 2 PM local | 3:30 PM IST
vs England, October 5 in Sharjah at 2 PM local | 3:30 PM IST
vs West Indies, October 10 in Dubai at 6 PM local | 7:30 PM IST
vs South Africa, October 12 in Dubai at 6 PM local | 7:30 PM IST