Carrying that determination, the Bangladesh women’s team left for Sri Lanka on September 23, before heading to India later for the tournament.
Ahead of the competition, Joty promised that her side would try to repay the faith of their supporters with strong performances.
Bangladesh’s women first qualified for the ODI World Cup in 2021 when the Qualifiers were cancelled due to the pandemic, and they earned their spot based on rankings.
That tournament in New Zealand marked their maiden appearance at the 50-over World Cup. However, Joty and her teammates struggled to make an impact, managing only a single win against Pakistan.
This time, with the World Cup starting on September 30, Bangladesh are eyeing victories at least against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Joty believes the team has grown since their debut campaign and now knows how to win matches in big tournaments.
Speaking at the Captains’ Day event in Sri Lanka, Joty said: “This is our second Women’s World Cup. Earlier, we were inexperienced and unfamiliar with winning at big events. Since then, we’ve played a lot of cricket at home and abroad. Now, we know how to win matches in these tournaments.”
Over the past few years, women’s cricket in Bangladesh has evolved. The 2018 Asia Cup triumph sparked interest, and while once ignored, the women’s matches are now broadcast on TV and YouTube, drawing crowds whenever possible. Jyoti feels it’s time to reward this growing support with performances on the field.
“We are really excited about this World Cup. For all of us, it’s a huge opportunity. We are aware of our responsibility to promote cricket in our country, where interest in women’s cricket is increasing. We believe it’s time to repay our supporters through our performances,” the Bangladesh captain added.
