Tigresses bank on unity and resilience

Bangladesh are set for their second appearance at the ICC Women's World Cup, beginning September 30 in Guwahati, having debuted in 2022 with a solitary group-stage win. Their preparation this time has been far from ideal, with no international fixtures since qualifying in April. Instead, the Tigresses relied on training camps and practice matches, including games against men's age-group sides, to sharpen skills under pressure. Bangladesh head into the showpiece event with a mix of experience and youthful promise, embodied by left-arm spinner Nahida Akter and young pace sensation Marufa Akter. Both bowlers shared their thoughts with The Daily Star's Abdullah Al Mehdi and Samsul Arefin Khan on the team's preparation, expectations, and personal goals. From Nahida emphasising unity, discipline, and batting consistency to Marufa focusing on variations, fitness and confidence, the duo reflected Bangladesh's belief that collective effort and resilience can help them compete on the biggest stage.

PREPARATION AND PERSONAL GROWTH

Nahida, the team's highest wicket-taker in white-ball formats, said the side had worked consistently since returning from Pakistan earlier this year. Continuous camps and competitive matches, she felt, ensured the group entered the tournament well prepared. Personally, she has been fine-tuning her bowling while also developing her batting to meet team demands.
"I've been working in many aspects because in big tournaments you need to be prepared thoroughly. My batting confidence has improved a lot too, though my main focus remains bowling," she said.
Marufa, who will be playing her first ODI World Cup, viewed preparation slightly differently. Despite the lack of recent international matches, she stressed the importance of personal discipline and training. Having overcome shoulder injury setbacks during her exam period, she worked on bowling variations with the help of coaches.
"If you practise properly, it won't affect you too much when you go into matches. Variations might make a big difference in conditions where wickets are usually good for batting," she explained.

TEAM BONDING AND CONFIDENCE

One theme both bowlers highlighted was the sense of unity within the squad. Nahida described it as Bangladesh's "biggest strength." Months of living, training, and playing together, she said, had helped create a family-like environment.
"We've probably spent more time with each other than with our own families in the last five months. The way we support each other on and off the field has been excellent. With such unity, we can achieve good results," she said.
Marufa echoed the same spirit, adding that the bowling units – both pace and spin – were focused on building partnerships. "Our goal is to work together. Pacers will apply pressure so that spinners can capitalise, or the other way around. It's all about teamwork."

CHALLENGES AHEAD: BATTING AND CONDITIONS

Bangladesh have often been criticised for their batting depth, and Nahida admitted that putting up competitive totals would be vital in Indian conditions.
"In World Cups, high scores are normal. If we can't put up 250+, our bowlers will struggle. The whole batting unit has to contribute, from top six to the lower order," she noted.
Marufa, meanwhile, pointed to the importance of adaptability. Known for her in-swingers, she is confident about regaining full sharpness and believes her added variations could help contain strong batting sides.

DEALING WITH CRITICISM AND EXPECTATIONS

The women's team has occasionally faced harsh criticism, including after defeats to U-15 boys in practice matches. Nahida admitted such comments could feel disheartening but stressed that the squad tried to block out the noise.
"Criticism will always be there, but taking it too seriously would affect our game. We try to focus on cricket and move forward," she said.
Marufa, who faced challenges balancing studies with cricket, added a lighter perspective. "Whenever I try to play defensively with the bat, it doesn't work. But when I hit, I feel peace," she laughed, recalling her admiration for Hardik Pandya's all-round style.

TARGETS AND AMBITIONS

Both bowlers made clear that Bangladesh's approach would be step by step. Nahida targeted a winning start against Pakistan to build momentum, while Marufa said the team's dream was to "do something special" without looking too far ahead.
For Nahida, the focus is on execution and consistency. For Marufa, it's about enjoying her first World Cup while aiming to contribute with both ball and bat. "Everyone dreams of playing in an ODI World Cup, and I had that dream too. It's a feeling I honestly can't describe in words – I'm extremely excited about this tournament," she said.