Bangladesh women’s cricket team captain Nigar Sultana Joty has called for more regular bilateral series against the world’s leading teams ahead of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 in Dubai. While major tournaments provide valuable exposure, Sultana believes Bangladesh needs more frequent opportunities to play against strong teams such as Australia, England and India.
The comments from Nigar Sultana Bangladesh come as her team prepares for an important Asia Cup campaign. Bangladesh are placed in Group B alongside defending champions Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
Nigar Sultana Wants More Bilateral Cricket
Sultana believes playing only in major multiteam tournaments is not enough for Bangladesh to close the gap with the leading women’s cricket nations.
Regular women’s cricket bilateral series against top-ranked teams would allow Bangladesh to gain more experience and better understand the demands of international cricket. Such tours would also give younger players more opportunities to compete against high quality opposition.
For the Bangladesh women’s cricket team, consistent exposure to stronger opponents could be particularly important as the side continues to develop its skills and tactical approach.
Bangladesh Target Asia Cup Final
While Sultana wants more international cricket, her immediate focus is on the Women’s Asia Cup. Bangladesh have struggled to move beyond the semifinal stage in previous editions, and the captain has made reaching the final the team’s main target this time.
Bangladesh will begin their campaign against Indonesia on August 31. They will then face Sri Lanka on September 6 before completing their group stage against the United Arab Emirates on September 8.
Winning Group B will be particularly important for Bangladesh. Finishing at the top could help them avoid India in the semifinal, making the group stage results crucial to their hopes of reaching the final.
Bangladesh Group B Schedule
Bangladesh’s three group matches will all be played at 8:00 PM IST in Dubai.
| Match | Fixture | Date | Time |
| Match 4 | Bangladesh Women vs Indonesia Women | August 31 | 8:00 PM IST |
| Match 10 | Bangladesh Women vs Sri Lanka Women | September 6 | 8:00 PM IST |
| Match 12 | Bangladesh Women vs UAE Women | September 8 | 8:00 PM IST |
The match against Sri Lanka could be particularly important because the defending champions are expected to provide Bangladesh with their toughest group stage challenge.
Asia Cup Could Prepare Bangladesh for Asian Games
The tournament also carries importance beyond the Asia Cup. The Asian Games in Aichi Nagoya, Japan, will follow shortly after the competition in September.
Sultana believes a strong campaign in Dubai can provide Bangladesh with valuable momentum heading into the continental event. The team will have ambitions of challenging for a podium finish and potentially winning the gold medal.
Bangladesh Squad for Asia Cup
The Bangladesh squad combines experienced players with emerging talent. Nigar Sultana will lead the side, while Nahida Akter has been named vice captain.
Squad: Nigar Sultana Joty (c), Nahida Akter (vc), Dilara Akter, Juairiya Ferdous, Sharmin Akter Supta, Sarmin Sultana, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter, Sultana Khatun, Shanjida Akther Maghla and Fariha Islam Trisna.
A Bigger Challenge for Bangladesh Cricket
The Nigar Sultana Women’s Asia Cup campaign will be about more than simply winning matches. It represents an opportunity for Bangladesh to demonstrate its progress and build confidence before the Asian Games.
However, Sultana’s call for more bilateral cricket highlights a larger issue. If the Bangladesh women’s cricket team is to consistently compete with the world’s best, regular matches against top nations will be essential.
The Asia Cup can provide an important platform, but sustained progress will require Bangladesh to face high quality opposition throughout the year rather than only during major tournaments.
