Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty expressed deep emotions following her team’s first victory in a Women’s T20 World Cup match in a decade. She believes this win will generate "momentum" for women's cricket in their home country.
In their World Cup opener in Sharjah, Bangladesh achieved a 16-run victory over Scotland, scoring what seemed to be a modest 119-7 in their 20 overs. However, their bowling attack proved effective, limiting Scotland to 103-7.
"I would say that winning after 10 years has made us all very emotional, as we have been waiting for this moment for so long," said Joty, who marked her 100th T20I appearance in this match.
"Regardless of how well we play, if it doesn’t result in a win, it means nothing. For women's cricket, after a long wait, I feel we’ve finally accomplished something."
"We have always mentioned that creating momentum is essential for our progress. Now, it seems like we can dream of achieving something greater. Our fans and families back in Bangladesh are also hopeful for our success."
The momentum for women’s cricket in Bangladesh could have received a significant boost if the tournament had been held as planned in their home country. However, weeks of political unrest led to the tournament being relocated to the United Arab Emirates, with Bangladesh remaining as the nominal host.
"It was initially quite disheartening, as we had anticipated playing in front of our home crowd," Joty reflected. "But the support we received from those who came here today was incredible."