Hashan Tillakaratne – BCB has taken a very good initiative to introduce two-day cricket to the women’s team

The Bangladesh Cricket League, a women’s two-day cricket tournament, was recently launched by BCB in Khulna, with the top players in the nation distributed among three teams while head Coach Tillakaratne, watched the players closely during the tournament to better understand their strengths and shortcomings.

Bangladesh’s women’s head coach, Hashan Tillakaratne, feels that his team will be better prepared for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka by playing two-day cricket. 

The Bangladesh Cricket League, a women’s two-day cricket tournament, was recently launched by BCB in Khulna, with the top players in the nation distributed among three teams.

Following the competition, Bangladesh began their week-long training camp at Khulna’s Sheikh Abu Naser Cricket Stadium on Monday (April 10) ahead of the series against Sri Lanka at their den.

Tillakaratne, who joined the women’s squad in October of last year, watched the players closely during the tournament to better understand their strengths and shortcomings.

“The preparation has been really good. I think two-day games will help them to improve their game. After playing two-day game they have learned so many things so I’m sure the preparation is very good and they will do well in Sri Lanka,”

Tillakaratne told Cricbuzz.

“I think BCB has taken a very good initiative to introduce two-day cricket to the Bangladesh women’s team. I am sure they will use this platform to achieve many things in years to come,” he said.

The former Sri Lankan batsman added that he is quite impressed with the fitness of the women cricketers in the longer version given that it was their first experience playing red-ball cricket. 

He also added that opener Murshida Khatun, who scored a century in the tournament, will be much better positioned to understand her game is concerned following her long stay at the wicket.

“Of course, they’re fit enough (to play longer-version cricket) because they’re checking their fitness regularly and most of the girls do pretty well in their YOYO test,”

said Tillakaratne.

“Happy’s (Murshida) 100 is also a brilliant 100 and she is the most technically correct batter and she is developing and started to know her game so that has been another positive sign of her,” he said.

Tillakaratne has not been well received in the Bangladesh dressing room so far as they rarely made an impact during the T20 World Cup and the New Zealand tour. 

They lost the three-match T20I series by a clear margin while New Zealand also won the ODI series 1-0 after the final two games were abandoned.

Following the series, Bangladesh traveled to South Africa to compete in the World Cup and lost all four games in the ICC global event; although Tillakaratne feels that their performance did not accurately represent their real standard.

“Yes true, we failed in the World Cup unfortunately but there are so many positives in our game right now and the girls have learned a lot from those games,”

he said adding that playing in the sub-continent certainly makes them more confident against Sri Lanka.

“As we’re going to play in subcontinent wickets it will help us and it will be a challenging and competitive series. If we can utilize our potential and skills then we can beat them. Of course, we have plans against them but I don’t think it’s the right time to discuss all my plans. Girls are prepared for the challenge. I’m sure they will turn the tables on them and I’ve got a lot of confidence in them.”

Tillakaratne added that if right-arm pacer Marufa Akhter learns to swing both ways she will be one of the lynchpins in the side going ahead. 

“Marufa is another young prospect in Bangladesh cricket and I think her performances during the T20 world cup were very amazing and everyone talks about her performances. I think she will bring so many good things in years to come,”

he said.

“Yes, she has a very good swinger and I believe she will develop a good outswinger also in time to come. But right now we are concentrating on what she can do. She is young and she is learning right now. We don’t want to put undue pressure on her now as she is enjoying her game. So in years to come she will develop so many things.”

The first ODI against Sri Lanka is planned on April 29 whereas the next two games are set for May 2 and 4, respectively. The three T20Is are scheduled on May 9, 11, and 12. The ODI series will include the ICC Women’s Championship.