Tigress eyeing to play smart cricket
Image : Getty
|| CF Correspondent ||
Ahead of the seventh ICC Women's T20 World Cup-2020, Bangladesh women’s national team captain Salma Khatun stated that they are aiming to display smart cricket while they will start their campaign of the tournament with the match against India on February 24.
After winning the qualification round for the tournament, Bangladesh team will be fighting from a group for knock stages that also includes host Australia and heavyweight New Zealand side.
Acknowledging Australia and New Zealand’s strength, Salma told that the better side would be determined with the performance in the field but they are eyeing to exhibit smart cricket in Australia.
“Definitely, Australia, New Zealand are tough [opponents]. They also don’t know how we play or neither we don’t know… they have just seen us in video footage,” Salma told reporters at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
“I think, we will understand which one is better side when we will play against in the field. But of course, I will say that New Zealand and Australia are far better than us. But we will try to play our best cricket, play smart cricket,” she added.
“We are going with the mission so that we don’t have to play the World Cup qualifying rounds,”
As Bangladesh women’s team have not yet played in Australian condition, Salma thinks they would be able to adjust with Australian condition as they will have some time in hand to adopt with the new condition.
“We are going a bit earlier, we will play after adjusting with the weather.
Salma said she is expecting her batsmen to perform well in the tournament as she said that the batting and fielding of her team, have improved then before.
“We have improved in batting. And our bowling side is very strong as usual. And we have improved in batting and fielding both. So I hope our batsmen will perform well in this tournament,” Salma told.
Despite making an admiration regarding the improvement of the squad in batting, the skipper herself is not going with the same motion in terms of her batting and bowling success.
Though Salma said she is not getting opportunities to bat on regular basis due to national team’s batting combination, the skipper was able to reach double digit figure last on November in two match ODI series against Pakistan where she scored 20 before getting run out.
“When I go to bat, I try to do well with the amount of balls that are left. And I am not battin going every matches. In T20, three four batsmen are playing [ the 20 overs]. But still, I am trying whenever I am getting the opportunity,” Salma said.
In terms of personal objective, national tea vice-captain Rumana Ahmed, who was the leading wicket-taker for Bangladesh in last edition of women’s T20 World Cup, said she is eyeing portray all-round display in the tournament.
“I think myself as an all-rounder. So I will try to show my all-rounding side with bat and ball,” Rumana said on Thursday.
Rumana, who was star for Bangladesh team in country’s first ever Asian Cup triumph, said they are focused on the tournament and give their best despite the fact that they will be competing from the group of Australia and New Zealand.
“Asian Championship has gone way before. Then we have played several tournaments. And our players have done well in previous matches. Now we are thinking about the World Cup,” she said.
“We know every team is big. we have not played against Australia and New Zealand yet. If we win against India, we expect to do well against Sri Lanka. We will try to give our best to perform well,” she said, adding that her lay-off due to knee injury won’t be a problem for her.
Pace bowler Jahanara Alam said that she is excited to play in Australia as it will give her opportunity to try her luck in pacer friendly wicket.
‘’Naturally I am looking forward to play in Australia as wickets are pacer friendly over there. I am looking forward to the challenge,’’ said Jahanara.
