Let Joty and team enjoy the victory

As Sarah Bryce walked off the field after taking 2 runs on the last ball of Marufa Akter’s over, relief washed over the Bangladesh camp. It was a moment of joy, finally lifting the burden of not winning in 10 years. This win ended the streak of 16 consecutive losses over four editions of the Women’s T20 World Cup.

For years, Bangladesh’s Women’s T20 World Cup and defeat had been two sides of the same coin. The red and green team first participated in the 2014 edition. In the final group match of that tournament, they scored 115 against Sri Lanka and secured a 3-run victory. That win remained their only success in the World Cup for a long time. Since then, the Tigresses had lost their way. In the 2016 edition held in India, Bangladesh lost all four matches in Group B. The 2018 edition in the Caribbean brought no change in their fortunes, as Bangladesh again lost all four matches in Group A. In 2020, in Australia, the story was the same: four matches, four losses in Group A. In the 2023 edition in South Africa, they faced a similar fate, returning home with four losses from Group 1.

Bangladesh started the World Cup by defeating Scotland । Photo: ICC

Breaking that 16-match losing streak was extra special for both Nigar Sultana Joty and Nahida Akter. Both achieved personal milestones in this match – for Joty, it was her 100th T20I, and for Nahida, she took her 100th wicket. Nahida reached her milestone by dismissing Katheryn Fraser, caught by Rabeya Akter on the fifth ball of the 19th over. At that point, Bangladesh could smell victory. Eventually, Joty and her team sealed a 16-run win, marking this milestone match with a sweet victory.

The significance of this win was evident in Joty’s words during the post-match conference: “We had been waiting a long time for a victory like this. We thought this was our moment to break the drought. This win certainly means a lot.” Due to the political instability in Bangladesh, the country lost its hosting rights, and the tournament is being held in the UAE. Whether Bangladesh can find more moments of joy in the remainder of the tournament remains uncertain.

The remaining teams in Group B are stronger and more advanced in every metric compared to the Tigresses. Bangladeshi fans can only hope, relying on the saying that "cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties." Their upcoming opponents are none other than England, West Indies, and South Africa. England won the inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup in 2009. West Indies were crowned champions in 2016. South Africa, often labeled as ‘chokers’ in the men’s mega-events, were the finalists in the last edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup. To have any hope in their remaining three matches, Bangladesh will need to pull off some upsets.

Bangladesh lost to England । Photo: Reuters

Perhaps Joty is calculating how to make this happen: “We needed a moment to turn things around, and we’ve found it. We are happy to have bounced back. The smiles on the girls’ faces are motivating and giving us the strength to move forward.” It’s hard to say whether the calculations will add up, but who knows, this victory might just change the course for the Tigresses.

On October 5, Bangladesh will face England at the Sharjah Cricket Ground. They will then play West Indies on October 10 in Abu Dhabi, and their final group match will be against last year’s finalists, South Africa, at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on October 12. After beating a weaker Scotland team, Bangladesh has gained some momentum. With nothing to lose in the remaining three matches, the team should play with the spirit of enjoyment. If they manage to achieve something, it will be a bonus. Joty, Nahida, Marufa, and the rest of the team should focus on enjoying the games and, if possible, gather the resources for their future journey.

Mahbub Sarkar is a sports journalist and analyst.