Dashing opener looms as key for Bangladesh at T20 World Cup
Juairiya Ferdous could prove crucial for Bangladesh at the T20 World Cup.
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Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty believes young opener Juairiya Ferdous could prove a wildcard for her side at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
Ferdous only made her senior international debut at the start of this year, but the hard-hitting right-hander has already shown signs that she can be a long-term player at the top of Bangladesh's batting order.
The 20-year-old smashed 26 from just 15 deliveries during Bangladesh's warm-up fixture against reigning T20 World Cup champions New Zealand in Loughborough on Saturday, before producing an equally effective knock of 50 off 38 balls against Ireland at the same venue on Tuesday.
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It bodes well for Bangladesh ahead of their opening clash at the T20 World Cup against the Netherlands on Sunday and Sultana Joty is confident Ferdous will stand up and perform in the contest.
"She is going to be very important for us because she's been a very good touch," Sultana Joty said after Bangladesh's 11-run loss to Ireland in their T20 World Cup warm-up fixture.
"She's very young and she's capable of hitting boundaries in the Powerplay and as well as after Powerplay as well.
"We are looking forward to see her the same way she played for us."
Bangladesh will enter their opening match of the T20 World Cup on the back of consecutive losses in the warm-up fixtures, though Sultana Joty suggested their were plenty of positives for her side to take from those contests.
The Bangladesh skipper singled out the performances of Ferdous and spinner Sanjida Akter Meghla and believes the team will be better prepared when the tournament proper commences.
"We played two practice games and I think we have learned so many things from them," she said.
"We really wanted to take all that positive stuff towards our first game and I guess we have some time to prepare ourselves.
"We'll talk about and maybe we can work on the practice. So we will take all the good things and are looking forward for the first game."