Sports Desk:

Bangladesh women’s cricket team captain Nigar Sultana Joty has set her sights on securing a place in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup as her team prepares to depart for Pakistan for the upcoming qualifier tournament.

The qualifiers, set to begin on April 9, will determine the final teams for the marquee event. Bangladesh will travel to Lahore on Thursday (April 3), aiming to clinch one of the coveted spots.

“Look, the meaning of ‘qualifier’ is that we are going to qualify—that’s the biggest thing,” Joty said at a press conference on Wednesday (April 2).

“Last time, we also had to qualify to play in the ODI World Cup. So, this time, it’s the same for us. There might have been opportunities that we couldn’t fully utilise. But still, I’d say that if we can perform better in the qualifier round, it will be good for the team, and everyone expects us to qualify for the ODI World Cup,” she added.

Joty emphasised the importance of strong performances throughout the tournament, adding that preparation has been intense despite challenges, including training during the Eid holidays.

Bangladesh will face Pakistan, West Indies, Thailand, Scotland, and Ireland in their bid for World Cup qualification.