Bangladesh’s women cricketers believe they can wipe out their nervousness that was crept on them during their ICC Women’s World Twenty20 opener and will be confident when they face England in their second match in Bangalore today. Their mental weakness was exposed in the opening match where they lost by 72 runs against hosts India, providing ample proof that they were awestruck by the grandeur of the global platform.
Bangladesh women, who looked to be an agile outfit against the Ireland in their last practice match and won plaudits from the local media for their ability to show a lot of enthusiasm during fielding, hardly lived up to their reputations.
During their bowling and fielding as well as when they were batting they seemed to be out of sorts whenever India tried to push them hard.
Skipper Jahanara Alam on Wednesday said that they had learnt their lessons and would try put up a better show today against the former ICC World Twenty20 champions, who are looking for their second title.
‘It’s a new game for us against England,’ Jahanara told reporters at a pre-match press conference.
‘We were a bit nervous in the opening match and that is part of the game.
‘We made some silly mistakes against India and we hope to learn from our mistakes.
‘When a batter hit a bowler for a six nervousness can automatically occur.
‘But now we are feeling that we have left behind the India game as well as our nervousness with it.
‘Definitely England is a strong side but we are not taking them by their name rather we are thinking it is just another match for us in the tournament,’ Jahanara added.
Bangladesh have met England only once in their 27-match Twenty20 international history and that too in the last edition of the ICC World Twenty20, when they were defeated by 79 runs at their own den.
England are currently one of the favourites along with India and Australia to win the tournament and the Bangladeshi women need to raise their game substantially to eke out an upset.
Jahanara is optimistic with their chances and claimed that only if they can maintain their basics rights they will have all the chances to come out as victorious.
‘If we can restrict them to 125 runs we will have a chance,’ said Jahanara.
‘We just need to follow the basics, bowl in the right areas and bat according to situations to take the game in our favour.’
-With New Age input
