Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana has emphasized that her team is focused on the future, not dwelling on the past, as they prepare to take on India in a five-match T20I series starting tomorrow at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
The series follows a controversial ODI series in 2023 where Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur received a suspension for an altercation with an umpire. Bangladesh have taken steps to avoid further issues by excluding the involved umpire from officiating in this series.
“We are not holding onto what happened in the past,” Nigar said at a press conference. “It’s good to see they respect us as a team, and we see this as an opportunity to test ourselves against a strong Indian side.”
Both captains acknowledged the importance of the series as preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which Bangladesh will host in September-October. India, in particular, is looking to get accustomed to Bangladeshi conditions.
“This is a fresh start,” said Harmanpreet. “We’re here to play good cricket and get used to the pitches before the World Cup.”
Nigar also addressed concerns about the hot weather, stating they’ll focus on playing well during the cooler evening hours. She expressed confidence in her bowling attack if they can set a target around 150 runs.
The series promises exciting cricket as both teams look to move forward and prepare for the T20 World Cup. All five matches will be played at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, starting at 4:00 PM Bangladesh Standard Time.
