ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Dubai begins with Captains’ Day ahead of opening game

DUBAI: The captain of Bangladesh’s women’s cricket team said her team will remain professional during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup despite their disappointment about the last-minute relocation of the tournament from their home country.

The decision to move the competition, which begins on Thursday and continues until Oct. 20, to the UAE was taken in August because of political violence in Bangladesh. All 23 matches will be played at two venues in Dubai and Sharjah. Bangladesh, who remain the official hosts, will get the tournament underway against debutants Scotland in the opening match.

The captains of all 10 competing teams gathered at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday for a pretournament press conference.

Bangladesh’s captain, Sultana Joty, acknowledged the challenges her team have faced as a result of the unrest in their home country and the resultant change in venue for the competition but said they maintain a positive outlook.

“It was disappointing but we are professional,” she said. “More than us, this is about everyone there. We are fortunate to be here and will provide some cheer for the fans.

“I’m expecting a lot of spectators because in Sharjah there are a lot of Bangladeshis there. And playing in this kind of event, I think more people will come watch us and support.”

Scotland are playing in their first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup. Captain Kathryn Brice emphasized her team’s familiarity with the host venues and hopes their previous experience with conditions in the UAE will give them a boost.

“I think we just really want to compete in this competition,” she said. “We’ve played some fantastic cricket in the qualifiers and leading up to it, so I think we just want to go out there and do ourselves justice on that stage and put in some good performances against these teams.”

The tournament begins with a group stage, with the top two teams from each of the two five-team groups progressing to the knockout phase. The top team from each group will then face the runners-up from the other group, with the two winners contesting the final.

In one of the most eagerly anticipated group-stage matchups, India will take on Pakistan on Oct. 6. Adding to the excitement is the fact that tickets are very reasonably priced, starting at just 5 dirhams ($1.36), and children get in free.

India’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, a veteran of all eight previous T20 World Cups, said it is important to remain composed under pressure.

“I think learning is something which is never going to stop,” she said. “Every day is a learning day. I’m going and learning and getting experience from every game.

“I think people around me, they are helping me, they are working hard to make our team go at that level where we want to be. I am happy with where our team is. I like how our team is working hard to achieve small, small things.”

Fatima Sana, the captain of Pakistan, emphasized the importance of self-belief, saying: “The best advice that management gave me is to express and back myself. They told me to take a brave decision in the field.”

The team with the best record in the tournament, six-time champions Australia, are led by Alyssa Healy.

“Ten teams, we all have a shot. You don’t come to defend a ball, you come to win,” she said.

“Our pool is quite a tricky one. We’ve got to get past a lot of these teams to be able to lift the trophy and it’s a challenge we’re excited for.”

A new feature for this year’s event is the first all-female team of umpires and referees, marking a historic step toward gender equality in officiating major sporting events.

With the possibility that dew might influence matches played under floodlights, and teams having taken the opportunity to play warm-up games to help adapt to conditions in the UAE, this edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup offers a chance for the next global superstars of women’s cricket to shine. New Zealand captain Sophie Devine highlighted the importance of nurturing emerging talent as the women’s game continues to develop.

“In terms of the quick bowlers, you’ve seen the girls become more professional, and what they’ve been able to do in the gym is starting to see bowlers hitting 120 kph and more, which makes for a challenge,” she said.

“It’s always exciting to be coming up against that but I think it just shows the development of the women’s game, that those sorts of skills continue to improve.

“We’ve got a number of young fast bowlers coming through. And again, their development has been massive the last 12 to 18 months, so certainly I’m looking forward to seeing what sort of bowlers they can turn into.”

Following the opening match between Bangladesh and Scotland, Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka on Thursday. Both games are at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.