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Both Jahanara Alam and Fahima Khatun were there when Bangladesh beat Ireland in Sylhet in the 2014 Women’s T20 World Cup. It was Bangladesh’s first World Cup, and that victory remains the last one for them in the competition. 

Jaharana and Fahima will be playing their sixth T20 World Cup in UAE early next month, while it will be the first for Dilara Akter, Sathi Rani, Taj Nehar, Disha Biswas, Rabeya Khan, and Sultana Khatun. They are in different stages of their careers, but the excitement of playing in a World Cup is the same. 

Jahanara thinks that this will be a tough tournament for them as there is no Asian team in their group. But she remains hopeful. She wants the team to put in a collective performance like they did in their 2018 Asia Cup triumph. 

‘If we can do that, then nothing is impossible. Then we will be able to beat teams like England, South Africa, and the West Indies,’ said the 31-year-old pacer in an open media session organised by the BCB ahead of the World Cup in Mirpur on Tuesday.

Pacer Marufa, who became a pace sensation for the Bangladesh team will have her Jahanara apu, who will be there to rectify her if she makes any mistakes. This will be the second gig for the 19-year-old. 

For Fahima, the oldest of the lot and who thinks of herself as an all-rounder, it is a matter of stepping up with the bat when the team needs it.

Another all-rounder, Ritu Moni, who will be playing in her fifth World Cup, also thinks that she has a big role to play with the bat. And she has a particular target—to bat with a strike rate above 100. 

Bangladesh will rely largely on their spinners given the conditions in the UAE. Nahida Akter, the left arm spinner who is also the vice-captain, and the highest wicket taker (99) for Bangladesh in this format, though, doesn’t think this is pressure.

‘This is motivation to me. We will try to fulfil the captain’s and team’s hope,’ said Nahida.

In recent times, Rabeya has become someone who the captain trusts a lot for getting crucial breakthroughs.

Once a pacer, the 19-year old also doesn’t want to think of this as pressure.

‘I enjoy the challenge. Everyone keeps motivating me,’ she said.

Off spinner Sultana Khatun also hopes that she will get the breakthroughs in the powerplay as the team asked of her. 

But it will depend a lot on the batters. The batting, in fact, will be the biggest concern.

Bangladesh will hope that Dilara, who is known for her intent of playing aggressively, will make it big.

She is hopeful too, ‘Inshaallah, you’ll see [long innings from me].’

The left-hander Murshida, who will play in her third World Cup, is open to bat at any position, even though she played most of her innings at the top of the order.

Sobhana Mostary, who is getting picked for her talent, says that the A team’s tour in Sri Lanka has given her a lot of confidence. 

The team management is hoping that the inclusion of Sathi Rani and Taj Nehar will strengthen the batting line-up.

Nehar is yet to make her international debut and was surprised when she got the call up. 

‘I never imagined that I would get the chance in this World Cup. I was very happy,’ said Nehar.

For Disha, the all-rounder and the former U-19 team captain, it is all about patience. She was in the previous edition’s squad too, but so far has not played at the senior level. 

Hailing from the hometown of Shakib Al Hasan, Disha wants to make a mark.

‘I want to be such a cricketer that the future generation will talk about.’

Disha’s former team-mate at the age level was Shorna, who already featured in the 2023 World Cup. The middle order batter, who bowls leg spin too, wants to take more responsibility. 

And when it comes to taking responsibility, captain Nigar Sultana Joty herself will definitely be aware of hers too. If everything goes well, the first World Cup match will be her 100th.

She will be the first female player from Bangladesh to reach that milestone.  Joty believes it’ll be a great occasion to win that match.

‘I want to win the first match, this is the most important thing. Of course it will be a big achievement for me and the team,’ she said.