As Joty and company prepare to sign off with the October 26 fixture against India, their campaign has underlined that their biggest battle remains psychological.

After starting their campaign with a win over Pakistan, Bangladesh endured agonising losses against England, South Africa and now Sri Lanka -- each decided in the closing moments.

After a three-wicket, last-over loss to South Africa in Vizag on Monday, most players were left in tears in the dressing room, but the camp's mood had brightened by the next day following retrospection.

As Bangladesh head to Visakhapatnam for their next two matches against South Africa and Australia on October 13 and 16, they will hope their captain can rediscover her touch to keep their World Cup campaign alive.

Before departing for the World Cup, expectations surrounding Nigar Sultana Joty's side were relatively modest.

Skipper Nigar Sultana Joty said the team remains focused on playing their natural game against title contenders England in Guwahati today.

Bangladesh could not have asked for a better start to their ICC Women’s World Cup campaign. Fast bowler Marufa Akter, already making a name as the Tigresses’ firebrand, pegged Pakistan on the backfoot from the onset at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium on Thursday.

From sharing a dressing room and exchanging tips, friends Nigar Sultana Joty and Fatima Sana go head-to-head as captains at an ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.

Bangladesh women’s team head coach Sarwar Imran suffered a minor brain stroke in Colombo on Monday, team manager SM Golam Faiyaz confirmed to The Daily Star today.

Marufa Akter burst onto the scene as one of Bangladesh’s most promising pace bowlers. Her blend of youthful exuberance, skill, and ambition quickly earned her a key role in the national team. The 20-year-old pacer from Nilphamari spoke to The Daily Star’s Abdullah Al Mehdi about her injury setbacks, her World Cup ambitions, and the drive to keep improving. The excerpts of the interview are as follows:

Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty said her side is eager to build on its experience and meet growing expectations as they get ready for their second appearance in the ICC Women’s World Cup, starting September 30 in Guwahati. 

At the last ODI World Cup in 2022, the Tigresses managed only one win. This time, head coach Sarwar Imran pointed to Pakistan and Sri Lanka as "fifty-fifty contests", stressing that the immediate goal is to do better than last time.

Red Team led by Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty endured another tough outing in the three-team Challenge Cup at BKSP on Sunday, suffering an eight-wicket thrashing against the Under-15 men’s team after a dramatic batting collapse.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) today named uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Rubya Haider Jhelik in their 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup, to be held in India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2.

Women’s cricket in Bangladesh still receives far less attention than men’s, and their preparation continues to lag. Yesterday’s Challenge Cup match in Savar showed just how poorly the team’s arrangements have been, given a quadrennial global event is fast-approaching.

In the past few months, the women's cricketers of Bangladesh have faced gross neglect from two of the leading cricketing entities in the country – the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) – in two different instances.

The flashpoint appears to be the activities of the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), which has not involved any women cricketers in its recent activities.

Bangladesh go into their final game of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers against Pakistan today knowing that their fate is still in their hands. If Bangladesh win today, they will ensure a second consecutive berth in the ODI World Cup behind already-qualified Pakistan.

Bangladesh national women’s team will look to confirm their spot in the main event of the ICC Women’s World Cup, scheduled to be held in India next year, when they face the West Indies in their penultimate qualifier at the LCCA Ground in Lahore today.

Bangladesh will go up against Hayley Matthews’ West Indies on 17th April next at the tournament.