The road to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 officially began for Bangladesh and the USA on Sunday, January 18, 2026, as the two sides locked horns in Match 2 of the crucial regional qualifier tournament in Kathmandu, Nepal.
This contest, held at the Mulpani Cricket Ground, set the tone for Bangladesh’s campaign in Group A, a pool that also features strong contenders like Ireland, Namibia, and Papua New Guinea. For the Tigresses, led by the experienced Nigar Sultana Joty, this opening fixture against the USA was seen as a vital opportunity to secure early momentum and boost their net run rate.
Toss and Strategic Decisions
The pre-match proceedings saw the toss go in favour of the USA. Captain Aditiba Chudasama, who recently took charge of the American side from Sindhu Sriharsha, made the strategic decision to field first. This suggested confidence in their bowling attack to restrict Bangladesh's batting lineup on the Kathmandu pitch, potentially setting up a chase under favourable conditions later in the day.
For Bangladesh, electing to bat first would have been the likely preference, allowing their established top order to set a challenging target in the high-stakes qualifier environment. Winning the toss is often a significant factor in these short-format tournaments, and the USA’s early advantage hinted at a tense tactical battle ahead.
Playing XIs Revealed
Following the toss, both teams confirmed their starting lineups for the critical encounter. Bangladesh named a squad featuring a blend of seasoned campaigners and emerging talent, ready to navigate the pressure of qualification cricket.
USA XI: Aditiba Chudasama (c), Ella Claridge (wk), Disha Dhingra, Geetika Kodali, Ritu Singh, Maahi Madhavan, Taranum Chopra, Saanvi Immadi, Chetna Pagydyala, Isani Vaghela, Pooja Ganesh.
The USA lineup showed several familiar faces, relying on their key all-rounders and wicket-keeping capabilities to challenge the more established South Asian side. The performance of their international experience will be crucial if they aim to upset the group favourites.
BAN XI: Dilara Akter, Juairiya Ferdous, Sharmin Akhter, Nigar Sultana Joty (c) (wk), Nahida Akter, Shorna Akter, Marufa Akter, Rabeya Khan, Mst Ritu Moni, Shanjida Akther Maghla, Sobhana Mostary.
Bangladesh’s XI featured their leading spin threats, Nahida Akter and Rabeya Khan, alongside the powerful hitting potential of the Akter sisters, Shorna and Marufa. Skipper Joty anchoring the innings while keeping wickets adds great stability to the middle order.
Bangladesh: Heavy Favourites Entering the Fray
Coming into the tournament, Bangladesh carried the mantle of being the heavy favourites in this specific fixture, largely due to their superior experience in ICC global events and consistent participation in high-pressure T20 fixtures. Their recent performances in regional competitions often highlight a degree of dominance that the USA is still striving to achieve consistently.
The key for Bangladesh will be converting promising starts into substantial scores. In T20 qualifiers, where pitches can sometimes be challenging, avoiding batting collapses against disciplined bowling attacks is paramount. Their spinners, central to their strategy, will be expected to dominate the middle overs, squeezing the USA run rate after the powerplay.
USA’s Path to an Upset
For the USA Women’s team, this tournament represents a significant step in their development pathway. While they enter as underdogs against Bangladesh, upsets in qualifiers are never out of the question, especially in the shortest format.
Their primary strategy, confirmed by their decision to bowl first, must revolve around aggressive early bowling and tight fielding. If they can dismiss Bangladesh’s key batters cheaply—particularly the top three—they stand a genuine chance of keeping the total manageable. The bowling unit, featuring pacers like Geetika Kodali, will need to execute their plans perfectly against the experienced Bangladeshi top order.
Where to Watch the Action Live
Cricket fans across Great Britain and internationally keen to follow the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2026 were provided clear avenues to tune in. For viewers in India, the official live streaming partner ensured comprehensive coverage of all matches, including the BAN vs USA clash.
The ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2026 matches, including the crucial Bangladesh vs USA fixture, were live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in the Indian subcontinent. While specific UK broadcasters for this qualifier might vary, digital subscription services often carry streaming rights for global cricket events, making platforms like Hotstar (via VPN or international packages) essential viewing for dedicated followers.
This match serves as more than just a single fixture; it is the first crucial step for both nations in their quest to secure a spot in the main T20 World Cup event. As the teams took the field in Kathmandu, anticipation was high for what promised to be a fiercely contested opening battle in Group A.
