Bangladesh Women’s cricket team ended their T20I series against Ireland with a disappointing 3-0 loss at home in Sylhet. Despite whitewashing Ireland in the preceding ODI series, the Tigresses couldn’t replicate their success in the shortest format, marking yet another series setback.

The defeat adds to a string of losses for the Bangladesh Women, who were also whitewashed by Australia and India earlier this year. Captain Nigar Sultana Joty struggled with the bat, scoring just 18 runs across the three matches, further compounding the team’s struggles.

At the post-series press conference, captain Nigar Sultana admitted her shortcomings and took responsibility for the team’s failure. “We, the experienced players, should have stepped up. I couldn’t score throughout the tournament. As a top-order batter, a lot is expected of me, but I failed to contribute, which set the team back significantly,” she acknowledged.

Highlighting the team’s inconsistency, Nigar added, “We’re failing collectively across three departments. When bowling and fielding click, the batting doesn’t. When batting improves, bowling and fielding lag. For example, today’s match was in our hands, but we dropped crucial catches at critical moments. We need to focus on staying composed during pressure situations.”

In the first T20I, Bangladesh’s bowlers struggled as Ireland posted a commanding total of 169 runs. Despite a 100-run opening stand, Bangladesh lost their way and the match. The second game saw Bangladesh restrict Ireland to a modest 134 runs, thanks to their bowlers’ efforts. However, their batting faltered, leading to another loss. In the final match, Bangladesh looked set for a competitive score but were bowled out for just 123 runs. Despite their bowlers giving hope by creating pressure, poor fielding ultimately handed Ireland the win.

The year 2024 has been disappointing for Bangladesh Women’s T20I team. Out of 19 matches played, they managed only three wins—against Malaysia, Thailand, and Scotland. The loss to Ireland capped a tough year, raising questions about their T20I strategy and execution.

Despite the T20I loss, Nigar praised Ireland’s performance, saying, “Ireland played a very good brand of cricket. They taught us how T20 cricket should be played throughout the tournament.”

While the matches were held in Sylhet instead of Mirpur, Nigar expressed no complaints about the venue. “The Sylhet wicket is very good. Ireland played excellent cricket. We couldn’t play well, which is why we lost. To bounce back, we need to regroup as a team. The management also needs to devise new strategies to identify players who can handle pressure better,” she noted.

Bangladesh Women’s next assignment will be a tour of the West Indies for ODI and T20I series.