After appearing firmly in control of the chase, Pakistan suffered a dramatic batting collapse, allowing Bangladesh to snatch victory from an unlikely position and keep their own qualification hopes alive.

Also Read Bengali : পাকিস্তানের বিশ্বকাপ স্বপ্নে বড় ধাক্কা, দুরন্ত প্রত্যাবর্তনে জয় ছিনিয়ে নিল বাংলাদেশ

Joty and Shorna Lead Bangladesh Recovery

Batting first, Bangladesh found themselves in deep trouble early on after Pakistan captain Fatima Sana struck twice in the opening over. The Tigers slumped to 13 for 3, losing Dilara Akter, Sharmin Akhter and Juairiya Ferdous within the first few overs.

With the innings under pressure, skipper Nigar Sultana Joty led from the front with a composed 36 off 38 balls. She received valuable support from Sobhana Mostary, who contributed 22 runs as the pair steadied the innings.

The momentum shifted dramatically in the closing stages thanks to Shorna Akter, who blasted an unbeaten 39 from just 22 deliveries. Her aggressive strokeplay lifted Bangladesh to a competitive total of 123 for 6 after 20 overs.

Pakistan Throw Away Winning Position

In reply, Pakistan made a confident start to the chase. Gull Feroza scored 23 while Muneeba Ali added 25, helping their side reach 69 for 2 after 11 overs.

With eight wickets in hand and the required run rate well under control, Pakistan looked on course for victory. However, Bangladesh’s bowlers engineered a stunning turnaround.

The middle order crumbled under pressure as Pakistan lost six wickets for just 15 runs, completely derailing the chase. Bangladesh spinners Nahida Akter and Sanjida Akter Meghla starred with three wickets each, applying relentless pressure and triggering the collapse.

Despite late resistance from Nashra Sandhu and Tasmia Rubab, Pakistan never recovered and eventually finished on 100 for 8, falling 20 runs short of the target.

Pakistan’s Qualification Hopes Hanging by a Thread

The defeat leaves Pakistan in serious danger of an early exit from the tournament. Their qualification hopes now depend heavily on results elsewhere in the group.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, remain alive in the race for a semifinal spot after producing one of the most impressive fightbacks of the competition so far.

Adding to Pakistan’s worries, an Indian victory over South Africa would officially eliminate them from the Women’s T20 World Cup and bring their campaign to an end.

It’s not a blockbuster tournament game, but a single preparation match will see the senior Indian squad led by Suryakumar Yadav in action. The match is scheduled for February 4 in Mumbai, where India will face South Africa. Notably, these two teams also clashed in the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup, making this a rematch fans are eagerly anticipating.

Alongside the senior team, attention will also be on India ‘A’, which features young talents like Ayush Badoni and Priyansh Arya. India ‘A’ will play warm-up matches against the USA and Namibia. Meanwhile, Scotland has been allocated two warm-up matches against Afghanistan and Namibia. England and Australia, on the other hand, will not play separate preparation games.

The Men in Blue are currently in red-hot form. In the last three years, India has lost only one T20 match, and since then, victories have flowed steadily. In their most recent series against New Zealand, India remained undefeated, with Abhishek Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah showcasing dominating performances. This form will be crucial for India to carry into the World Cup.

In total, 15 warm-up matches will be played before the T20 World Cup. These matches will serve as a form check for senior players and provide valuable experience for emerging talent.

Cricket fans are eagerly waiting to see how India performs in these preparation matches, especially the senior team’s showdown against South Africa. Maintaining their current momentum in the warm-ups will position India as one of the top contenders for lifting the T20 World Cup trophy.

বিশ্বকাপে ভারত থেকে বঞ্চিত বাংলা, এমন কি ঘটল?

India will begin their campaign on 7 February in Mumbai, playing against the USA. The most high-profile clash — India vs Pakistan — will be held on 15 February, not in India but in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Under the hybrid model, all of Pakistan’s matches, including a potential semifinal, will be hosted in Sri Lanka. If India and Pakistan both reach the final, that match too will be held at a neutral venue.

However, one major surprise is that Kolkata’s Eden Gardens did not get a single India match in the group stage. This has already triggered political debates and discussions.

Is the Group Stage Easy for Suryakumar Yadav’s Team?

India has been placed in a relatively easy group. Apart from Pakistan, their group includes the Netherlands, Namibia, and the USA.

India vs USA – 7 February, Mumbai

India vs Namibia – 12 February, Delhi

India vs Netherlands – 18 February, Ahmedabad

World Cup Venues

Although World Cups generally have eight venues, due to the hybrid model, eight venues have been shared between India and Sri Lanka.

India’s five venues: Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi

Sri Lanka’s three venues: Colombo, Kandy, Galle

Group Distribution

Group A: India, Pakistan, Netherlands, Namibia, USA

Group B: Sri Lanka, Australia, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Oman

Group C: England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal, Italy

Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, UAE, Canada

India’s Full Schedule

7 Feb: India vs USA — Mumbai

12 Feb: India vs Namibia — Delhi

15 Feb: India vs Pakistan — Colombo

18 Feb: India vs Netherlands — Ahmedabad

Knockout Schedule

Semifinals — 4 March: Kolkata and Colombo

Final — 8 March: Ahmedabad
(But if Pakistan reaches the final, it will be held in Colombo.)