Bangladesh's women team secure first T20 World Cup win after a decade

Bangladesh's women’s cricket team finally ended their decade-long wait for a T20 World Cup victory, defeating Scotland by 16 runs in a thrilling opener in Sharjah on Thursday.

The win, secured by a disciplined bowling effort after Bangladesh posted 119-7, was a momentous occasion for the team and for captain Nigar Sultana Joty, who described the triumph as an "emotional milestone."

Bangladesh’s bowlers restricted Scotland to 103-7, clinching a long-awaited victory that left the players, including captain Nigar Sultana, visibly emotional, as reported by Express news.

Playing in her 100th T20I, Nigar expressed the deep significance of the win, not just for the team, but for women’s cricket in Bangladesh.

“A win after 10 years is very emotional. We’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” said Joty.

“No matter how well we play, if we don’t win, it feels meaningless. This victory gives us momentum, and I feel it’s a step towards something bigger," she added.

The captain’s emotional reaction, captured in images shared by the ICC, reflected the intensity of the moment for the team.

The victory was even more meaningful due to the circumstances surrounding the tournament.

Originally, Bangladesh was set to host the event, but due to political unrest, it was moved to the UAE. Despite the disappointment of not playing in front of their home crowd, Joty emphasized the team’s resilience.

"We’ve moved on from the heartbreak of not hosting the tournament. We’re fortunate to be here, healthy, and representing our country," she said.

The win has ignited excitement among Bangladeshi fans and is seen as a turning point for women’s cricket in the country.

Nigar hopes this momentum will carry the team further in the tournament, where they now aim for more success in the group stage.

Scotland’s Saskia Horley, who took an impressive 3-13, acknowledged the loss was disappointing but praised her team’s efforts, saying, "We’ve made history by being here, and we’ll continue to give our best."

Bangladesh remains in Sharjah for their next group match against England, while Scotland will travel to Dubai to take on the West Indies in their T20 World Cup debut campaign.

Bangladesh Sought UN Support to Retain Women's T20 World Cup Hosting Rights

Earlier, Bangladesh’s interim government turned to the United Nations for assistance in securing the hosting rights for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup.

Several nations, including Australia, the United Kingdom, India, and New Zealand, had raised concerns over travel safety, leading these countries to impose travel restrictions on their citizens.

Asif Mahmud, the government's youth and sports adviser, announced that they were in discussions with the UN to address these travel bans and ensure that Bangladesh could host the event safely.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) closely monitored the situation in Bangladesh but had yet to decide whether to relocate the tournament.

The ICC informed participating cricket boards that, while no final decisions were made, they were exploring all options.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) acknowledged that travel restrictions imposed by foreign governments posed a major challenge to retaining their hosting rights.

The BCB encountered additional issues as its president, Nazmul Hassan, had been missing since the fall of the Awami League government in August.

Several other board directors were also untraceable, causing internal instability. Asif Mahmud mentioned the potential formation of an interim body to manage the BCB but stressed the importance of the board’s autonomy in decision-making.

He emphasized the need for systemic reforms to bring about long-term changes and prevent future corruption.

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