Dhaka – Bangladesh will face the hosts and current champions West Indies in the opening match of the ICC Women’s World Twenty 20 at Providence Stadium in Guyana on Saturday morning.The day-night affairs will begin at 6 am [Bangladesh time] due to time zone difference between Bangladesh and West Indies.Though there is a big gap in terms of rankings, favourite Windies will start their campaign with a wary of the spin threat of Salma Khatun-led Bangladesh.
Windies are at number four in the ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings while Bangladesh are down at number nine. Looking beyond the rankings, Bangladesh are certainly a big threat, especially when their opponents make the mistake of not taking them seriously enough.
On the way to the sixth edition of the women’s World WT20 in Caribbean, Tigresses were remained irresistible throughout the eight-nation qualifiers tournament in Netherlands for all-win title victory in July this year.
The win over India – twice – on their way to winning the Asia Cup in June 2018 was a major achievement, and since then they have gone unbeaten through the WWT20 qualifiers and put up other good performances, including bowling Pakistan out for 94 runs for a six-wicket victory in an ODI at home on October 8.
Bangladesh have not yet won a match in WT20 but, but the Asia Cup title spring can bring surprises this year.
Bangladesh’s strength is their arsenal of spin bowlers, expected to find the conditions in the Windies to their liking, especially their leg-spin duo – Rumana Ahmed and Fahima Khatun – are super performers, while Khadija Tul Kubra, the off-spinner, will likely to be a threat too.
The batting is not the team’s stronger suit, but if the bowlers can keep the target down, the Windies could be in a shock.
Ahead of their campaign in the sixth edition of the 10-team world tournament, Bangladesh completed their warm-up mission with a six-wicket win against Ireland before an eight-run loss against Pakistan in Guyana on November 4 and 7 respectively.
Key players:
Rumana Ahmed has been one of Bangladesh’s most consistent players in the past year, playing key roles in her team’s big wins. She also looked good in returning 3/10 in a warm-up game against Ireland, and will look to replicate that form against the Windies.
Deandra Dottin is a star of Windies side having stronghold with the bat and the ball, also can turn any match on her own. Most recently, in the warm-ups, she showed good form with the ball against India, returning 3/12, and then did her bit with the bat against New Zealand, hitting a quick 35. In a team of outstanding short-format players, Dottin stands out.
Squads:
Bangladesh: Salma Khatun (captain), Rumana Ahmed, Ayasha Rahman, Fahima Khatun, Jahanara Alam, Nigar Sultana Joty, Khadiza-Tul Kubra, Lata Mondol, Nahida Akter, Panna Ghosh, Fargana Hoque Pinky, Sanjida Islam, Shamima Sultana, Sharmin Supta and Ritu Moni.
Windies: Stafanie Taylor (captain), Merissa Aguilleira, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Sheneta Grimmond, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Natasha McLean, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation and Shakera Selman.UNB
