Getting used to scoring runs is extremely important – Sultana

Sri Lanka women tour of Bangladesh, 2026

Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana has stressed the need for batting-friendly conditions as the side begins its build-up to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, starting with a white-ball series against Sri Lanka. The series gets underway in Rajshahi from April 19, with three ODIs, followed by a three-match T20I series.

"Since we are preparing for major tournaments, we wanted a good batting wicket where the batters can play freely and score runs," Sultana said ahead of the opening game. "Getting used to scoring runs is extremely important."

The Bangladesh skipper also backed the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium surface, expressing hope for high-scoring contests that can draw crowds. "From my experience, the Rajshahi wicket is very good for batters," she said. "I want to see both teams score big. When there are runs, the fans come, and they enjoy the game."

Sri Lanka, coached by Jamie Siddons, arrived in Bangladesh on Friday for their first bilateral series in the country. Beyond immediate preparations, Sultana also emphasised the need to take women's cricket beyond the capital.

"We can't keep everything Dhaka-centric," she said. "If we give importance to grounds outside the capital and host matches here, people involved in the game will feel more encouraged."

The series marks Bangladesh's first step in fine-tuning their approach ahead of the World Cup, with conditions, venues and overall strategy forming a key part of their build-up.