The Bangladesh women’s cricket team’s build-up to the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka has faced a major setback after suffering back-to-back defeats against the Bangladesh Under-15 boys’ team. These losses occurred in the Challenge Cup — a special tournament scheduled by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to gear up the women’s side for the global event.
The Challenge Cup involved three sides: Bangladesh Women’s Team Red, Bangladesh Women’s Team Green, and the Bangladesh Under-15 boys’ team. The women’s teams played at least two matches against the boys’ side, both ending in defeat. The U-15 boys won by convincing margins each time: first beating Team Red by 87 runs and then overcoming Team Green by 47 runs.
The fact that the Bangladesh women’s team will be attending the World Cup without having played an international match in five months—their most recent competitive match was against Pakistan on April 19, 2025, during the World Cup qualifiers—is a significant worry. Since then, their activities have been limited to fitness programs and intra-squad matches, without exposure to international opponents, which many experts see as a disadvantage when compared to rival teams.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) women’s committee chairperson, Nazmul Abedin, revealed that efforts were made to organize competitive matches against other nations to prepare the team for the World Cup, but several challenges prevented finalizing any games. Since qualifying in April, they tried reaching out to different boards but could not confirm any fixtures.
They spoke to Sri Lanka, who eventually withdrew to focus on domestic cricket. Among the eight World Cup teams, four had already scheduled fixtures, while Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and England were not playing any matches.
They also approached the West Indies, but since they failed to qualify, there was no interest. Although teams like Thailand and the UAE women’s sides were willing to play, those matches would not have benefited Bangladesh’s preparation. As a result, the team is currently playing against domestic Under-15 boys, which is proving to be a more competitive alternative under the circumstances.
Nigar Sultana, the captain of the Bangladesh women’s team and the team’s leader in the Challenge Cup, recognized the value of international experience. She stated “It would have been better if we had played an international match, but a lot of effort was made. Because of other teams’ packed schedules, it was not possible. Still, with whatever facilities we are getting, with the highest facilities possible in Bangladesh, we are practicing.”
The squad would have benefited more from matches against overseas competition. She reaffirmed the team is working hard within available local facilities to maximize their readiness.
After finishing the Challenge Cup, the team will take a short six-day break, followed by a nine-day preparatory camp in Sylhet. This final training phase will feature three day-night practice games at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, representing their last opportunity for match practice before heading to the World Cup.
With their scheduled matches against the Under-15 boys resulting in two losses and with no recent international fixtures, questions remain about the team’s preparedness and morale as they enter one of cricket’s biggest stages. The team hopes the upcoming intensive camp will help address some of these shortcomings, but the lack of competitive games is an unmistakable concern as the tournament approaches.
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