Bangladesh women’s cricket team captain Nigar Sultana Joty has set a clear objective for the upcoming Asia Cup: reaching the final. Speaking on Monday following an official photo session, Joty emphasized that merely advancing to the knockout stages is no longer sufficient for the squad, which has repeatedly stumbled at the semi-final hurdle.
The team is currently finalizing preparations at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium before their scheduled departure on August 26. The Asia Cup, set to begin in Dubai on August 28, sees Bangladesh placed in Group B alongside defending champions Sri Lanka, the UAE, and Indonesia.
Joty highlighted the importance of a strong group-stage performance to avoid a difficult path in the knockouts. “The group-stage matches are very important because if we can become group champions, we will not have to face India in the semi-final. The situation becomes much tougher when we face India in the semi-finals,” she explained. She expressed confidence in the team’s readiness, noting that they have benefited from several practice matches, including two held in Sri Lanka to acclimate to 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. Joty believes that success in the UAE will provide crucial momentum for the Asian Games, which are scheduled to take place in September at the Korogi Sports Park in Aichi, Japan.
Regarding the Asian Games, the skipper stated that the primary goal is to secure a medal. “If we can play the Asia Cup in a better way, it will also create a big opportunity for us in the Asian Games. If you talk about the Asian Games, our first target is to go there and win a medal,” she said. She added that while a gold medal is the ultimate ambition, the team is focused on adapting to conditions to perform well across both tournaments.
Bangladesh has a history of success at the Asian Games, having secured a silver medal in 2010 and a bronze in the 2022 edition. In the upcoming competition, they are slated to face China in the first quarter-final on September 17.
Joty concluded by reiterating the team’s commitment to breaking their recent tournament barriers. By focusing on consistent improvement and tactical execution, the squad hopes to translate their preparation into a historic run in the Asia Cup and a podium finish in Japan. 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 and if it is gold, that would be even bigger, we want to bring home a medal.
