Joty expresses optimism that the T20 World Cup can serve as a strong catalyst for unity in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty has shared her thoughts ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024. Initially, Bangladesh was set to host the tournament, but it was relocated to the United Arab Emirates due to security concerns. While Joty expressed her disappointment about the change, she remains hopeful that the team's participation can bring positivity to a nation recovering from unrest.

"The impact of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup goes far beyond the field for Bangladesh," Joty said. "We were excited to host this prestigious tournament, but circumstances beyond our control prevented that from happening.

"Playing in front of a home crowd at an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is a rare dream for many cricketers. We felt privileged to be the host nation, and the change hit us hard.

"It was disappointing not just for us, but also for our families, friends, and fans, who were all looking forward to watching us compete at home. Nevertheless, this T20 World Cup arrives at an opportune moment for our country. Things are improving in Bangladesh, and we can contribute to that positive momentum through cricket.

"Cricket unites us in a unique way. If we perform well, it will undoubtedly uplift the spirits of the Bangladeshi people."

Bangladesh finds itself in a challenging Group B, hoping to cause a few surprises and advance to the knockout stages alongside England, Scotland, South Africa, and the West Indies. Joty is eager to experience the thrill of a World Cup victory during the tournament.

"Although we may not be the hosts, our goals remain unchanged. We aim to make this a memorable experience.

"This is a significant opportunity for our team to showcase our talent and potential on a global stage.

"This will be my fourth T20 World Cup with Bangladesh, but I’m yet to win a match—so my primary goal is to secure that first win, whether as a team or as an individual.

"That win could give us the momentum we need to push for a semi-final spot.

"We’re in a tough group with Scotland, England, West Indies, and South Africa, but we feel well-prepared as we enter the tournament."

After a disappointing loss to Sri Lanka in their first warm-up match in the UAE, the team rebounded with a victory over Pakistan, boosting their confidence ahead of the main event.

"The girls showed incredible resilience after the loss to Sri Lanka and played exceptionally well against Pakistan.

"We see this as a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate our abilities, but we know we need to be at our best from the start if we want to reach the semi-finals, beginning with our opener against Scotland.

"The hot and humid conditions in the UAE will present challenges for all teams. However, our warm-up sessions have been promising, and the ball has been coming onto the bat nicely.

"While these conditions may not favor spin as much as in Bangladesh, spin is still proving effective, which is advantageous for us. Our bowlers, whether they are leg-spinners, off-spinners, or fast bowlers, are versatile, and spin could be crucial.

"In the end, tournaments like this for women's cricket are all about scoring runs. The more runs we see, the more spectators will be drawn to the matches.

"Even if the conditions favor batters, every team faces the same challenges, which will reflect on the scoreboard.

"We can expect some exciting, high-scoring games that will attract attention to the T20 World Cup, which is beneficial for our sport."

Bangladesh will begin their tournament against Scotland in Sharjah on Wednesday.