'Want to see a lot of runs': Joty expects run-fest in Rajshahi

Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty has welcomed the decision to stage the three-match WODI series against Sri Lanka outside Dhaka, saying the Rajshahi wicket should encourage free-scoring cricket as the Tigresses gear up for the Women’s T20 World Cup in England in June.

Bangladesh will play the ODIs on April 20, 22 and 25 at Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium, where Joty expects conditions to favour batters and help her side develop a habit of posting big totals.

With temperatures set to climb as high as 38 degrees Celsius during the series opener on Monday, the series will also test the players’ endurance.

Speaking ahead of the series, Joty stressed the importance of preparing on batting-friendly surfaces ahead of the World Cup.

“Since we will be traveling to England to play in the World Cup, and the wickets there tend to be more batting-friendly -- though there are certain venues where spin helps a few teams -- we didn’t want [spin-heavy tracks here]. We wanted a good, batting-friendly wicket where the batters can play comfortably and get runs, because building the habit of scoring runs is incredibly important,” Joty said in the pre-match press conference.

She also highlighted Rajshahi as a venue conducive to strokeplay and entertaining cricket.

"Often, [high scores] don't happen because of the wicket, but so far I feel the way the Rajshahi pitch behaves is very good for batters. I want to see a lot of runs from both sides because when there are runs on the board, spectators will come to the stadium and people will truly enjoy watching the game."

The Tigresses head into the series with confidence after winning the 10-team Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in February, which secured their place in the main tournament in England.

However, this will be Bangladesh’s first ODI assignment since a disappointing World Cup campaign last year, where they managed just one win in seven matches to finish seventh among eight teams.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be playing their first bilateral women’s ODI series in Bangladesh. They won the only previous bilateral ODI series between the sides in Sri Lanka in 2023 and remain unbeaten against Bangladesh, winning all three of the five completed matches. The two teams last met at the 2025 World Cup, where Sri Lanka edged a seven-run thriller.

The tour will also feature three T20Is on April 28, 30 and May 2, all to be held at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.