Bangladesh Elects to Bat First Against India in Women's Asia Cup Semifinal

Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana chose to bat first against India in the Women's Asia Cup semifinal at Dambulla. Both teams had distinct paths to the semifinals, with India unbeaten in group stages and Bangladesh securing second place in their group.

In a key encounter at the Women's Asia Cup, Bangladesh's skipper Nigar Sultana won the toss and opted to bat first against India in the first semifinal held at Dambulla on Friday. This semifinal clash saw both teams arriving through contrasting group-stage performances.

India marched into the semifinal with an undefeated record in Group A, securing victories against Pakistan, Nepal, and UAE. On the other hand, Bangladesh clinched the second spot in Group B with wins over Thailand and Malaysia, despite a loss to Sri Lanka. The other semifinal today at the same venue pits Sri Lanka against Pakistan.

At the toss, Nigar Sultana expressed confidence in batting first, citing favorable pitch conditions from previous matches. She acknowledged the strength of the Indian team and emphasized the need for a solid collective batting performance from her side. Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur echoed the focus on continuing their strong form and the importance of powerplay. She also mentioned a few changes in the Indian lineup. The teams are as follows: Bangladesh - Nigar Sultana (c/w), Dilara Akter, Murshida Khatun, Rumana Ahmed, Ishma Tanjim, Ritu Moni, Rabeya Khan, Shorna Akter, Nahida Akter, Jahanara Alam, Marufa Akter. India - Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Uma Chetry, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (w), Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, Tanuja Kanwar, Renuka Thakur Singh.