Joty sets sights on Asia Cup final, Asian Games glory

Bangladesh women's cricket team captain Nigar Sultana Joty has set her sights on reaching the Asia Cup final before carrying that momentum into the Asian Games, where the Tigresses will target a medal.

Bangladesh will leave the country on August 26 for the Women's Asia Cup in Dubai, which begins on August 28. The Tigresses are in Group B alongside defending champions Sri Lanka, the UAE and Indonesia.

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For Joty, however, simply reaching the knockout stage is no longer enough. Bangladesh have repeatedly made it to the semifinals without managing to go one step further, and the captain wants that pattern to end this time.

“Our main target this time is to play in the final. We have played in the semi-finals before and then been knocked out. The same thing has happened repeatedly, so we want to break that barrier this time,” Joty said after an official photo session on Monday.

Our main target this time is to play in the final. We have played in the semi-finals before and then been knocked out. The same thing has happened repeatedly, so we want to break that barrier this time.

Bangladesh's preparation has given the captain reason for optimism. The team have played several practice matches, including two in Sri Lanka to familiarise themselves with the conditions, and Joty believes the work put in ahead of the tournament has been encouraging.

“Our preparation has been very good because we have played quite a few practice matches this time. Since all the games will be played in Sri Lanka, we also played two practice matches there. Preparation-wise, I think it has been very good,” she said.

Bangladesh will begin their Asia Cup campaign against Indonesia on August 31 before facing Sri Lanka on September 6 and the UAE on September 8. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.

Joty believes the group stage could prove decisive in Bangladesh's bid to reach the final. Finishing top of Group B could help them avoid India in the last four, a prospect she considers particularly significant.

“The group-stage matches are very important because if we can become group champions, we will not have to face India in the semi-final. The situation becomes much tougher when we face India in the semi-finals,” she said.

Bangladesh's immediate focus will therefore be on navigating the group successfully, with a strong showing against Sri Lanka likely to be particularly important. Joty sees the Asia Cup as more than an isolated tournament, with the team's performance in Dubai potentially setting the tone for the Asian Games in Japan.

“If we can play the Asia Cup in a better way, it will also create a big opportunity for us in the Asian Games,” she said.

The Asian Games will begin in September, with the women's cricket competition to be played in the T20 format at Korogi Sports Park in Aichi. Bangladesh will face China in the first quarter-final on September 17.

Joty is not hiding the team's ambition for the continental multi-sport event. Bangladesh won silver in the women's cricket competition at the 2010 Asian Games before claiming bronze at the 2022 edition, and the captain wants another medal this time, with gold the ultimate prize.

If you talk about the Asian Games, our first target is to go there and win a medal.

“If you talk about the Asian Games, our first target is to go there and win a medal,” Joty said.

“There are a lot of expectations from our team. We want to bring home a medal, and if it is gold, that would be even bigger. We will certainly try to do that.”

For now, though, the Asia Cup stands between Bangladesh and that larger ambition. Joty believes a better performance in Dubai, particularly from the top order, could give the Tigresses the platform they need to finally cross their semi-final hurdle.

“First comes the Asia Cup, so if we can perform better there, that will definitely have a reflection on the Asian Games. If we can adapt to the conditions and play better cricket, we will have a good chance of doing well in both tournaments,” she concluded.