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Nigar Sultana’s Bangladesh Chooses to Bat First Against Scotland in T20 World Cup Opener

Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first against Scotland in the opening match of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Captain Nigar Sultana, marking her 100th T20I appearance, confidently chose to take advantage of the batting-friendly conditions at Sharjah. With temperatures soaring to 38 degrees Celsius and humidity at 53%, her decision was influenced by the favorable pitch. “We believe it will be excellent for batting, and the ball will come onto the bat nicely,” Sultana explained.

Scotland’s captain Kathryn Bryce echoed similar sentiments, stating she would have also opted to set a target under these conditions.

Bangladesh, ranked ninth in the ICC T20I standings, qualified for the tournament as the original hosts, placing three spots above Scotland. They have a strong track record against Scotland, having won all four previous encounters in this format. After preparing in Dubai, where they secured a victory over Pakistan, they are eager to achieve their first World Cup win since 2014, the last time they hosted the tournament.

Scotland, on the other hand, aims to make a significant impact in their inaugural World Cup appearance. They earned their spot by finishing as finalists in the qualifiers held earlier this year in the UAE, celebrating a victory over Pakistan in their first warm-up match before losing to Sri Lanka. Notably, spinner Olivia Bell, who did not play in the qualifiers, is included in Thursday’s lineup.

Captain Bryce is coming off a remarkable home summer, recognized at the PCA Awards on Tuesday as the first non-English recipient of the Women’s Player of the Year award. She collected four accolades, including Domestic Overall MVP, Charlotte Edwards Cup Player of the Year, and Captain of the Metro Bank Women’s Team of the Year.

This opening fixture serves as the tournament’s kickoff, following the ICC’s decision to shift the hosting duties to the UAE due to anti-government protests in Bangladesh during July and August. As a result, this marks the first Women’s T20 World Cup held at a neutral venue.

Bangladesh Team: Shathi Rani, Murshida Khatun, Sobhana Mostary, Nigar Sultana (captain & wicketkeeper), Taj Nehar, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Nahida Akter, Marufa Akter

Scotland Team: Saskia Horley, Sarah Bryce (wicketkeeper), Kathryn Bryce (captain), Alisa Lister, Priyanaz Chatterji, Darcey Carter, Lorna Jack-Brown, Katherine Fraser, Rachel Slater, Abtaha Maqsood, Olivia Bell

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