The Bangladesh Women’s Cricket Team’s preparations for the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 included a magnificent occasion. With less than a month till the global championship in India and Sri Lanka, the Nigar Sultana-led squad suffered an ugly 87-run defeat against Bangladesh’s Under-15 boys in a warm-up match.
Bangladesh Women have been preparing for the main event with a three-team domestic One Day tournament that includes Bangladesh Green (women’s), Bangladesh Red (women’s senior squad), and the U-15 boys. This was supposed to help them prepare for the World Cup. Instead of increasing confidence, the team’s performance against school-level opponents has cast doubt on their abilities.
In the second game of the Cup, Bangladesh U-15 boys batted first and posted 182 runs in their allotted 50 overs. In reply, they bundled out Bangladesh Women’s Red for just 94 runs in 38 overs, sealing a brilliant 87-run victory. The women’s batting unit collapsed under pressure, with only four players managing to cross double digits. Opener Sharmin Sultana top-scored with 20, but no other batter could build on the start. The middle and lower orders had no answers against the bowling of the youngsters. Notably, clips of the boys celebrating the dismissal of Bangladesh’s last batter quickly went viral, triggering debates online about the state of the women’s team ahead of a major ICC tournament.
Captures from the 2nd One Day
Women’s Team Red VS Boys’ U15 Team | 2nd One-Day Match | Boys’ U15 Team won by 87 Runs
BCB Women’s Challenge Cup 2025 | One Day Championship
20 August 2025 | 9:00 AM | Venue: BKSP – 3#Bangladesh #WomensCricket #ChallengeCup #BCB… pic.twitter.com/0ZGtIO57We
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) August 20, 2025
Historic moment in Bangladesh as Bangladesh under 15 Boys beat Bangladesh Women’s International cricket team 😀 #Cricket pic.twitter.com/XVudVbhDmF
— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) August 20, 2025
Bangladesh women to play Pakistan in their World Cup opener
Captain Nigar Sultana and her team will now have to regroup quickly. Bangladesh does have two official warm-up matches in Colombo before the World Cup begins, which will be crucial in getting their rhythm back and boosting their morale.
Bangladesh will play seven league matches in the upcoming World Cup. They open their campaign against Pakistan on October 2 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, followed by fixtures against England, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Sri Lanka, and India. Their final league game against India is scheduled for October 26 in Bengaluru, though venue changes are being considered.
India
