Women’s team set for major event sans international matches, again

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is again relying on domestic tournaments and a short preparation camp instead of international fixtures to prepare the women's team for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifiers – repeating the approach taken before this year's Women's World Cup in India, which it later admitted was a mistake.

Before the 50-over World Cup, Bangladesh went nearly five months without international cricket, a gap that seemingly contributed to narrow defeats against Sri Lanka, England, and South Africa.

Although the BCB, players, and coaching staff had publicly cited this as a key shortcoming, the team is in the same situation heading into the qualifiers event, scheduled in Nepal from January 18 to February 1.

Since returning from the World Cup in October -- where Bangladesh won only one match and finished second from bottom -- the players have featured in one T20 domestic competition, the eight-team T20 competition Women's National Cricket League in November.

However, several national stars, including captain Nigar Sultana Joty, Marufa Akter, and Nahida Akter, skipped the competition due to various reasons.

The cricketers will next take part in the four-team Women's Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL), set to be held in Rajshahi from December 15 to 25, also in T20 format.

Bangladesh were initially slated to tour India during this window for three WODIs and three WT20Is, but after the hosts postponed the series indefinitely, the BCB did not set up any alternative international engagement.

Women's team's chief selector Sazzad Ahmed Shipon said the board is planning a week-long training camp -- either in Dhaka or outside the capital -- to finalise preparations before the team departs for Nepal on January 12.

"There is less than three weeks [after BCL and before the team's departure]. If any series is played, things get tight. That's why we are playing the BCL in T20 format [last edition was held in the three-day format] so that the players get used to the format," Shipon told The Daily Star on Friday.

According to the qualifiers' fixture, Bangladesh, placed in Group A, will open their campaign in the 10-team tournament against the USA on January 18, followed by matches against Papua New Guinea, Namibia and Ireland on January 20, 22 and 24 respectively.

The top three teams from Group A and B will advance to the Super Six stage, and the top four teams will qualify for the Women's T20 World Cup, set to be held in England from June 12 to July 5 -- the largest edition yet, featuring 12 teams.

A probable reason behind the board's seemingly casual approach regarding the team's preparation is that Bangladesh have regularly featured in the event since 2014 and have consistently qualified through the qualifiers. Still, given the nature of the shortest format, heading into the qualifiers undercooked is a risky proposition.

Moreover, if the Tigresses qualify for the mega event, they will most likely head into it underprepared, with only one FTP-sanctioned home series -- three WODIs and three T20Is against Sri Lanka in April -- scheduled before the World Cup.

The players are supposed to take part in two domestic tournaments before the Sri Lanka series -- the proposed three or four-team Women's Bangladesh Premier League (WBPL) in February, announced by BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul, and the 50-over Women's Dhaka Premier League (WDPL) starting in March.

However, the feasibility of hosting the Women's BPL in February remains unclear with the national elections on February 12 and Ramadan approaching soon after.

"The team will return on February 2 from Nepal. After that, two tournaments are supposed to happen… I don't think it's viable to arrange another series after that. The time is very short," Shipon said, adding that the board can't hold the Women's DPL in the 20-over format as it can't impose that decision on the clubs.