Emotional scenes as Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana sheds tears following Women's T20 World Cup opener victory

Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty expressed her emotions following her team's victory over Scotland in the Women's T20 World Cup in Sharjah, calling it a significant milestone. It was a long-awaited win for Bangladesh, marking their first victory in the tournament in over ten years. Joty believes this victory could be a turning point for women's cricket in Bangladesh, setting a positive tone for the team's future performances.

Bangladesh posted a modest total of 119-7 in their 20 overs, but their disciplined bowling attack restricted Scotland to 103-7, securing a much-needed victory. Joty, who was playing her 100th T20I, expressed the team's joy, noting how significant this win was for the squad and for Bangladeshi women’s cricket.

“A win after 10 years is very emotional. We’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” said Joty. “No matter how well we play, if we don’t win, it feels meaningless. This victory gives us momentum, and I feel it’s a step towards something bigger."

The win is even more meaningful as Bangladesh originally planned to host the tournament, but widespread political unrest led to the event being moved to the UAE. Despite the disappointment, Joty emphasized the team’s resilience, saying, "We’ve moved on from the heartbreak of not playing in front of our home crowd. We’re fortunate to be here, healthy, and representing our country.”

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The ICC also posted stills of Nigar Sultana getting emotional while celebrating the victory:

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The win has sparked excitement among fans and supporters back home in Bangladesh, and Joty hopes this win will create the momentum necessary for further success in the tournament.

Scotland’s Saskia Horley, who took 3-13, admitted the defeat was disappointing but praised her team’s spirit, saying, “We’ve made history by being here, and we’ll continue to give our best.”

Bangladesh remains in Sharjah to face England in their next group match, while Scotland, in their first-ever T20 World Cup appearance, will take on the West Indies in Dubai.