16 February - Cape Town - Bangladesh Captain Nigar Sultana pre-match press conference
[REPORTER]
Which area do you want to improve from the next match?
[NIGAR SULTANA]
We can see that we are struggling with the batting. In the last match, we did well with the bowling. If we could have bowled well against Sri Lanka, we could have won the match. So, we have to think about what has happened. There is no other option other than demoralizing. But we will try to improve from the last two matches. And improve for the next match as well. Thank you.
[REPORTER]
Gomesh here. I wanted to ask a follow up on that. Personally, on your knock against Australia. To score 50 against such a tough opposition. How does that feel for you personally? And also, to watch you do that. Especially with all that's happening off the field. The captain leading from the front. How does that inspire the team morale?
[NIGAR SULTANA]
I guess, you know, I was not under very much pressure. Because against Australia, I'm just trying to do my normal thing. Like trying to maintain my process. And wanted to keep going this scoreboard. So lost early to wicket. And I'm trying to get some runs in the power play. I'm trying some different style of mine. Like trying to hit over the cover or over the top. So, trying to get myself there and trying to get some runs for the team. And after that, I'm actually slowed down myself there. Because I know if I'm going to be there. Scoreboard will be running. But I think few... I hadn't get any partnership. That's why maybe. But if Shauna, Subahana could play. At least do better. But we could at least get 130 plus. It would be better for the team.
[REPORTER]
Let me ask you one more from me. In the ODI World Cup as well. And now here you gave Australia a bit of a scare. With early wickets before they actually going down. It was Mooney there if I'm not wrong. And here it was Lanning. What do you think you could do better to sustain that pressure. And actually get a win under the belt.
[NIGAR SULTANA]
I guess the thing is. We are kind of a team that we can give any other team, like a little bit of afraid. Like whenever they are going to play against us. They are not taking us lightly. This is the very best thing for the team I guess. Because kind of. We are kind of team that we are not very. Like a high ranked team. So we are not going to get so much of matches. Against the top ranked team. So we are just trying to. Get ourselves in this kind of situation. That they are showing interest to play against us. So this is the thing. And this is a very big stage. That we can show our capacity and potential. Thank you.
[REPORTER]
Hi captain, Vimal Kumar here. We all know. I have seen that the kind of passion Bangladesh has, especially for men's cricket. Back home. Is this the same for women's cricket? Or do you think there is a difference, huge difference?
[NIGAR SULTANA]
Nowadays. It actually changed. Before I guess. 2018 Asia Cup. It was not like this. Like people are not showing any interest to the women's cricket. They couldn't do well. In this side. And I guess after the Asia Cup. People showing more interest on them. Like they know now. That we could do well for the country. And nowadays. A lot of like. Players are coming in. Even though a lot of. Young players are increasing day by day. Even though Bangladesh cricket board has organized a lot of. Tournament for us. Even though they are working on under 17. They played really well in the under 19 World Cup. So, so far. The pipeline actually. The pipeline player actually increasing day by day. And obviously they are pushing so hard. To the main team player. That you have to do well. Otherwise we will come up. So this is the good healthy competition. Competition is going on in Bangladesh. Even though. Now that we are doing well here. So if we could get at least a good win over here. Then that will help to. That we are capable to do something. For the country.
[REPORTER]
Obviously, ICC T20 World Cup Is a huge tournament. And big motivation for all the players in Bangladesh. But apart from that. Especially the new leagues coming like WPL. Or the hundreds. How much that is going to be a motivation. Especially the kind of money is coming from WPL.
[NIGAR SULTANA]
I guess, this is a huge step for women’s cricket. Obviously for this year. But before, two or three players are going into IPL. So they had a good experience. Even though you know we have two players like Jahanara Alam and Ruman Ahmed played in the last tournament. This year we are sending three people in theHong Kong tournament. So I think it will increase day by day. And obviously, young players are actually performing for this side. It will help their experiences. And obviously how they perform for the team.
[REPORTER]
Hi. I don't know if this was asked before. But I just wanted to know, you toured New Zealand recently. How much of a factor will it play in tomorrow's match.
[NIGAR SULTANA]
I guess we have some experience of playing against them. And you know we went to New Zealand to play some matches over there. But there is some positives we had there. And I guess they lost the last two matches. But we played good cricket in the last match. So we have something that we can carry forward. In the next match, like I said, we had a good momentum. Maybe we lost the game against Australia. But still if we could play good cricket against New Zealand, I guess, we can give them a tough time.
[REPORTER]
Hi Sunil from ITV India. There are three formats that have emerged. And you guys have been really good in the Asian circuit. Are you comfortable playing the ICC. The bilaterals. Or suddenly the new flavor which is the leagues. What do you personally prefer and what do you think you should be focusing on?
(NIGAR SULTANA]
You know that we just qualified for the ODI World Cup. So we had our first bilateral series against New Zealand for that we waited for a long time. Just because you know, you are not in the top eight ranked team. So that time we are not in the schedule of the ICC. So the board actually tried a lot to get ourselves some matches against good teams. But right now we had a schedule that we are going to play against Australia, India, Pakistan. So now we have a plan that what we are going to do in the next. I guess. Right now we are focusing on the T20 World Cup. And we are very good at ODIs obviously. And we are developing on the T20 side. Because just because we are not getting much of cricket in this format. We are going to be playing the World Cups only. Or maybe the qualifiers. So this time we are going to play bilateral series so maybe three ODIs. It will help us to prepare ourselves for the biggest test. And obviously the four franchises. When we are going for the plate, it will actually give a person a chance to gain a lot of experience too. She has the dressing room. And they can talk with the international players. Good international players. And gain a lot of experiences. But still I think we are focusing on the national responsibility right now. And obviously wherever we get the chance to play in the franchise tournament, they will obviously get a lot of experiences. Thank you.
