Cricket

Bangladesh Skipper Nigar Sultana Eyes Victory in Women's T20 World Cup 2024Ahead of the highly anticipated Women's T20 World Cup 2024, Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana has expressed her team's determination to make a mark on the global stage. Bangladesh will embark on their World Cup journey on Thursday, facing Scotland in their opening match.Sultana believes that this tournament presents a golden opportunity for her team to showcase their talent and potential. "It is a huge opportunity for the team, playing this kind of event in front of the world, to show the talent and the potential we have," she said.The Bangladesh skipper has set a clear goal for her team: to secure a victory in every match. "Individually, this will be my fourth T20 World Cup for Bangladesh, but I'm yet to win a game - so first and foremost, as a team or as an individual player, my goal is to get a win," Sultana stated.Bangladesh's aspirations extend beyond just winning matches. They aim to push for a semi-final berth in the prestigious tournament. "That will give us momentum we can use throughout the tournament as we try and push for a semi-final spot," Sultana added.Bangladesh finds itself in a competitive Group B, alongside England, Scotland, South Africa, and West Indies. Despite a disappointing defeat to Sri Lanka in their first warm-up match, Bangladesh bounced back with a victory over Pakistan, instilling confidence within the team.Sultana acknowledged the challenges ahead but remained optimistic about her team's chances. "We are trying to push for the semi-final spot. We know it will be tough, but we are confident that we can do it," she said.The Bangladesh squad for the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 comprises:* Nigar Sultana (C, WK)* Nahida Akter* Murshida Khatun* Shorna Akter* Ritu Moni* Sobhana Mostary* Rabeya Khan* Sultana Khatun* Fahima Khatun* Marufa Akter* Jahanara Alam* Dilara Akter* Taj Nehar* Shathi Rani* Disha Biswas

The Women's T20 World Cup 2024 is fast approaching, and excitement is building worldwide for this highly anticipated cricketing spectacle. Six-time champions Australia enter the tournament as firm favorites to defend their title, boasting a well-balanced side led by Alyssa Healey.India, on the other hand, will be eager to build on their impressive start to the World Cup campaign, having defeated West Indies and South Africa in convincing fashion in the warm-up fixtures. However, they face a tough group that includes Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka, leaving plenty of room for upsets.The change of venue from Bangladesh to the UAE has sparked discussions among experts. Georgie Heath, a Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Foundation ambassador, believes it will impact team strategies. England, for instance, has opted for a spin-heavy attack, while Australia has gone more seam-heavy.The UAE's batter-friendly conditions are expected to lead to higher scores and more attacking batting. Sri Lanka, with explosive batters like Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama, could benefit from this change.Despite Australia's dominance, Heath believes there are teams that can challenge them. England, with its world-class spinners Sophie Ecclestone and Sarah Glenn, could be a force to be reckoned with. Sri Lanka, having won the Asia Cup and impressed in recent matches, is also a dark horse.India, despite their recent near misses, have yet to find the winning habit. Heath believes they need to overcome their tendency to fail at the final hurdle and develop a killer instinct.Pakistan, on the other hand, is struggling to find consistency and a winning formula. They have a young captain in Fatima Sana, but she may lack the experience and leadership qualities needed to guide the team.The Women's T20 World Cup 2024 promises to be an exciting and unpredictable tournament, with several teams capable of challenging Australia's dominance. The change of venue and the emergence of dark horses add an extra layer of intrigue to this highly anticipated event.

India Poised for Dominance in Women's T20 World Cup 2024, Says Veda KrishnamurthyFormer Indian cricketer Veda Krishnamurthy has expressed confidence in the Indian women's team's ability to dominate the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup 2024. The team departed for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday, where the tournament will commence on October 3.Krishnamurthy emphasized the importance of adapting to the conditions in the UAE, particularly for the spin-heavy Indian squad. She highlighted the crucial role of Deepti Sharma, who has been a key bowler for the team."Adjusting to the conditions is crucial when playing in the UAE, especially with this squad. We rely heavily on spinners, particularly Deepti Sharma, who has been a key bowler for us," Krishnamurthy said.She also praised the fast bowlers, especially Pooja Vastrakar, for their ability to hit hard lengths with the semi-new ball. Krishnamurthy believes that if India can start well and get Renuka Singh firing, they will be a formidable force in the tournament."It's all about how they start, and they need Renuka to fire, regardless of the conditions. If they manage that, I think India will be very dominant in this World Cup," she added.In the previous edition of the T20 World Cup in 2022, India reached the semi-finals but fell short against Australia. Despite mixed results in the lead-up to this year's tournament, including losses to Australia and England, India has bounced back with consecutive series wins against Bangladesh.India will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against New Zealand on October 4 at Dubai International Stadium. They will also play warm-up matches against the West Indies and South Africa before the tournament.

India-Pakistan Rivalry to Ignite Women's T20 World Cup 2024 in UAEThe highly anticipated Women's T20 World Cup 2024 has been relocated from Bangladesh to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the tournament set to take place from October 6 to 20. The relocation was necessitated due to logistical challenges in Bangladesh.The tournament will feature 10 teams divided into two groups, with six-time champions Australia drawn in Group A alongside India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Group B comprises South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, and Scotland.The India-Pakistan clash on October 6 is expected to be one of the highlights of the tournament, given the historic rivalry between the two nations. The match will be played in Dubai, which will also host the final on October 20.Each team will play four group matches, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals on October 17 and 18. The tournament will feature 23 matches across two venues, with 10 warm-up matches scheduled from September 28 to October 1.The Women's T20 World Cup 2024 promises to be an exciting and competitive event, with some of the world's best cricketers set to showcase their skills. The relocation to the UAE is expected to provide a safe and secure environment for the tournament, while also ensuring that fans from around the world can witness the action live.

India's Women's T20 World Cup 2024 preparations are underway with a fitness and conditioning camp in Bengaluru. The camp, which will focus on fielding and fitness, will feature a large squad of probables, excluding those currently playing in the Women's Hundred or Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).The Indian team will not have any international cricket before the World Cup, which will be held from October 3 to 20. The India A team is currently in Australia for a multi-format series.Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, and Richa Ghosh will miss the first camp due to their Hundred commitments, while Jemimah Rodrigues will be playing in the WCPL for Trinbago Knight Riders.The camp will also include sessions with a sports psychologist, as requested by captain Harmanpreet Kaur. The psychologist will help players address challenges and cope with pressure and mental fatigue.The squad for the World Cup will reconvene in early September for an intense skill-based camp. India will be aiming to win the World Cup for the first time after falling short in previous tournaments, including the 2020 final and 2022 semi-finals against Australia.Shreyanka Patil, who suffered a finger injury during the Women's Asia Cup, is expected to recover in time for the tournament and will participate in the conditioning camp. Yastika Bhatia, who is recovering from a knee injury, is also expected to continue her rehabilitation at the NCA.The selectors are prioritizing a spin-based squad, but the uncertainty surrounding the host venue due to security concerns in Bangladesh may also impact the pace bowling group.Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar are the regular pacers, while Arundhati Reddy is pushing for a spot after impressive performances in the domestic season and the WPL. Meghna Singh and Titas Sadhu are also in contention.The fast-bowling group will be guided by Troy Cooley, the former Australia fast bowler who is a bowling consultant at the NCA. The group will play intra-squad games in September before departing for the World Cup.