22 March - Hamilton - Bangladesh Captain Nigar Sultana post-match press conference

Reporter: I had a couple of questions. My first question was that you had India at 176 for six and after that they went on to get to 229 - Did you feel like you lost your way a little bit towards the end of India’s innings? And were you satisfied with the bowling in the end overs?

Nigar: Actually they were trying to build a partnership and yes, somehow in that situation I think our bowlers couldn't bowl in the right areas. This is something that we are lacking, so I think we need to work on that. And obviously the bowler is trying to bowl in their plan, but somehow it couldn't work. So, we obviously want to work on this.

Reporter: There were a lot of high quality spinners in today's match from both the teams from Bangladesh as well as India, but Sneh Rana was probably the one who had the most success and she dismissed you as well when you faced her – so what do you think she did well, like why was it so difficult to face her today?

Nigar: I think she was trying to bowl in good areas today and was using the conditions well. And I think it has worked for her. And obviously I think the lack of concentration, I think and I was trying to like hit over the top so it couldn't connect well. That's why I got out.

Reporter: Obviously you've got two more games left - two big games against Australia and England. So how will you make sure that the team is ready for those two games?

Nigar: We just want to forget about the negative things from here and we just want to take the positives from here. And obviously the big games are coming up and we wanted to prepare ourselves for the next matches that somehow we couldn't build up the partnership today. So we wanted to work on that. And I think how we prepared ourselves well. We have done enough practice in the nets and we have played enough practice matches. We played against each other. So this is the time when we wanted to execute actually and I think at least two - three batters if they contribute in the next matches - then we will get like a very good score on the board. So maybe that scenario will be different.

Reporter: Nigar, tough luck. Do you think today's match is the worst match in this World Cup so far?

Nigar: I basically think that our bowlers did really a good job by restricting India on a decent run for us even today. And the chasing becomes harder when your top-order batters can't score runs then it seems to be a tough call for lower-order. If we top-order batters could have contributed, I think the match could have been different. At least we could go closer. So far, I think, of course, the condition we had today was that India was a known opponent. We had a chance to perform better than this.

Reporter: As you said about the top order that the bowlers who set up a decent score, was there a belief in the dressing room that you could chase 230? Because most of the time you could not chase the run or we didn't score 200 regularly. So, what was this belief in the dressing room?

Nigar: No, but before here we did 234 runs against Pakistan in Hamilton. So we had this belief among us that the wicket is good, if the top 4 or 8 batters can play a long inning then we can chase this target.

Reporter: As you said the top-order batters couldn't make runs, so it became difficult to sore for the lower order batters but we saw in the last match as well that Salma started very well although she couldn't finish it up. Today she had a good inning too, I mean at the beginning of our inning. So don't you think that if an experienced batter like her plays a bit above the order then it would be a more balanced batting order?

Nigar: It actually depends on the situation. In fact, sometimes she has been playing continuously in that place. If the team management and coaching staff think that if she plays a bit top then it will be good for the team, maybe she will be tried there in the next matches.

Reporter: One more thing, what do you really think, what is the difference between you and this Indian team? I know there are differences in many ways, but which one would you point out that this is a big difference?

Nigar: Yes, The only difference I think is that they played 240 matches whereas we played only 48 matches. That is a difference. And they're continually playing international matches, maybe we can't play that. This is our difference. And if I talk about our strength and their strength, their and our spin attack is more or less the same. We also have left armer, they also have left armer, or they have offspinners, we also have. So if you talk about our attacking side, starting from the bowling, we have the capability to bat from seven to eight. But the thing is that the difference between us is that we are far behind in terms of experience.

Reporter: Do you think that we are equal to India in terms of skill? I mean, do you think they are close to yours?

Nigar: From the skill's point of view, obviously, if we say skill-wise, of course, we are skilful. Otherwise, we might not have come to this place to play in the World Cup. Only can we not perform, it is our lack that we cannot perform as a team. Maybe the bowling unit is doing well but the batting unit is not doing well. This is our lacking. So the difference in the skill maybe 50-50, or 60-40 within 80-100 but in terms of experience, we are lagging behind the most.

Reporter: Thank you. Jyoti, Our Bangladesh women's team plays very few day-night matches, I mean, all the matches we play at home in the bilateral series are day matches. So whether there was any problem in the day-night match, especially batting under the light of floodlights.

Nigar: I haven't really heard from anyone that has faced such difficulties. We also got a chance to practice under the light for one day. But it cannot be an excuse. In fact, I think we lost today's match because of the collapse of top-order batters. So, it is entirely the responsibility of our top-order batters. If we could contribute a few more runs for the team, including me, if I wasn't out at that time, if we could build up a partnership, then it would be a different scenario for the match. So far I don't think that we are having ​​any problem with playing under the light. Because we've played under the light before. Maybe we didn't practice that much but I would say that everyone has a little bit of playing experience.

Reporter: Another thing is that Indian off-spinner Rana got 4 wickets. So as an Asian team we hoped we could at least play spin bowlers. So what did you think about spin when you were batting on the wicket? Did you find it a little tough to play Indian spin attack?

Nigar: I think there was a little more turn in the spin in the second inning. And they have used that condition very well, they have used that situation very well. We may have lost wickets in that situation. If we had stayed in that place a little more patiently. But later Salma, Ritu and Lata started very well. At that time they first started patiently then played in attacking mode. That way if we top-order batters could do something then later say it for Salma or lower and middle order batters it would have been more convenient for them to accelerate the run if we had the wickets in hand.

Reporter: Hi Nigar! If you could tell us a bit that your performance has been very good in this tournament. You had almost defeated West Indies. Today, you gave India a very good competition with the ball. But as you said that you lack experience with the bat. Obviously, you will play ICC ODI Championship but what changes at the domestic level you are expecting as a captain when you will return home after playing this World Cup? What support do you think is needed from Bangladesh Cricket Board to do better in the next World Cup?

Nigar: I think already the Cricket Board has a lot of plans for us and they have tried to improve our cricketing skills through various plans before. But still, I think if domestic tournaments are more competitive, then it will be much easier for us to compete in international cricket. I certainly hope that the Bangladesh Cricket Board is already working on what else we can do to make further improvements.

Reporter: Another question, Murshida Khatun hit a six against Jhulan Goswami, it was looking very good and that was a historic moment because it was the first six for Bangladesh women's cricket in the ODI World Cup. Do you want to say something about that six because it will be the first six in your tournament history?

Nigar: yes, obviously. I think Murshida Khatun is very capable of good batting. And she got the ball in her zone and hit it very well. And I think he had a lot more chance to do that but somehow he couldn't. But still, I think that since it's our first six in the World Cup, it will always be memorable for her as well as for the team.

Reporter: Thank you Nigar. Best wishes for the next matches. [Thank you.]