Bangladesh women returned home on Monday night after qualifying unbeaten for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England, set to run from 12 June to 5 July, and captain Nigar Sultana Jyoti addressed ambition, acceptance, and focus after the campaign.
Bangladesh did not enter the tournament through the front door. They had to fight through qualifiers, and they did it with authority. The Tigresses finished the competition unbeaten and left no doubt about their place at the World Cup.
Jyoti said the team now aims higher than simple participation. “We want to do well at the World Cup because we played very good cricket in the qualifiers,” she said. “Our goal at the World Cup will be to win matches.” That line matters because it shifts the conversation from survival to intent.
She pushed the spotlight firmly onto her players. “All the credit goes to the girls,” she said, before narrowing the focus. “Our job is to play good cricket on the field, and that is where we will keep our attention.” It is a captain’s answer, but also a clear one.
The unbeaten run did not come by chance. Jyoti revealed the mindset before departure. “Before we left, our mentality was not just to qualify but to stay unbeaten,” she said. “This was the best possible preparation before the World Cup.” Bangladesh treated every game as a rehearsal, not a hurdle.
Control defined their approach. “We wanted to dominate every match and tried to play that way,” she said. That dominance showed in the results and explains why the qualifiers sharpened rather than drained the squad.
On the subject of Bangladesh not playing in the men’s T20 World Cup, Jyoti chose restraint. “The World Cup is a huge thing for any cricketer,” she said, before steering the conversation away. “This is not the right time to talk about it.” It was a careful line, and a necessary one.
She did not deny the feeling behind it. “Of course it hurts,” she admitted, grounding the moment in honesty. Then came acceptance. “What is happening now is something we have no choice but to accept.”
Jyoti ended with a forward-looking message that fits a team about to step onto the global stage. “I think we should focus on the future now.” Bangladesh women earned their place. England will test what they do with it.
