Bangladesh’s Sobhana Mostary expressed the team’s intention to leverage their previous encounters with India as they gear up for the Women’s World Cup face-off scheduled for Sunday at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The Tigresses have faced the Women in Blue in eight Women’s ODIs, winning only one match and losing six, with one game in 2023 in Mirpur concluding in a tie.
The outcome of the upcoming match will not impact the teams’ chances of reaching the semi-finals. While India has secured a spot and is set to finish fourth, Bangladesh aims to avoid finishing at the bottom of the standings. Mostary, who has scored 169 runs with two half-centuries, acknowledged India’s strength but emphasized Bangladesh’s determination to conclude the tournament positively.
Mostary mentioned in a pre-match press conference, “India has displayed exceptional performance in this tournament. They are a formidable team. Following our last defeat, we took a two-day break to strategize how we can end the tournament on a high note.”
“We have analyzed our batting performance, identified areas for improvement, and are keen on rectifying our mistakes. With experience playing against India both in India and Bangladesh, we aim to utilize that knowledge to enhance our bowling and batting,” Mostary added.
Highlighting the team spirit, Mostary noted, “We have maintained a positive mindset, focusing on our strengths rather than dwelling on negatives. The team management has been supportive and encouraging, emphasizing the importance of learning from mistakes.”
Praising Bangladesh’s captain Nigar Sultana Joty, Mostary commended her calm leadership style and experience in guiding and motivating the team. Joty’s supportive approach towards players, regardless of their experience levels, has been a driving force behind the team’s morale.
Bangladesh commenced their campaign with a victory against Pakistan but faced setbacks afterward. Their hopes were dashed following a narrow seven-run loss to Sri Lanka, despite Jyoti’s impressive knock of 77 runs off 98 balls.
The team is now focused on ending the tournament positively, with Joty’s leadership and the team’s collective efforts driving them forward.