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Bangladesh face India for place in Asia Cup final
Published : Thursday, 10 September, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Observer Online Desk
Collected Photo
Bangladesh will face India in the first semifinal of the Women’s Asia Cup in Dubai today, with a place in the final at stake. Bangladesh finished runners-up in their group after losing to Sri Lanka, while India remain unbeaten in the tournament.
Bangladesh’s campaign has followed a familiar pattern. They suffered a narrow defeat to Sri Lanka in the group stage before securing wins in their other two matches, although neither victory was particularly convincing. Against Indonesia, playing their first Asia Cup, Bangladesh posted 129 but needed to lose eight wickets to win, while they struggled to reach 100 against the United Arab Emirates in their final group match.
Batting has been Bangladesh’s biggest concern throughout the tournament. They will now have to overcome an Indian side they have beaten only three times in 24 T20 internationals.
Bangladesh batter Sharmin Akter, however, said the team would embrace the challenge. Speaking at a press conference after the UAE match, she said playing a top side was part of the challenge of becoming champions.
Bangladesh famously defeated India in the 2018 Women’s T20 Asia Cup final to win their first major women’s cricket title. Since then, they have failed to reach another final. They were eliminated in the group stage in 2022 after losing to Thailand before India ended their campaign in the semifinal of the previous edition in 2024.
With the batters struggling, Bangladesh will once again rely heavily on their bowlers. Spinners have enjoyed favourable conditions in Dubai, and they have been central to Bangladesh’s victories. They bowled Indonesia out for 58, restricted Sri Lanka to 115 for six while defending a modest total, and kept the UAE to 69 for nine.
Pacer Marufa Akter has also been impressive, taking a wicket in her opening spell in all three group-stage matches. She is currently the leading wicket-taker among the tournament’s pace bowlers.
If Marufa maintains her form and Bangladesh’s spinners deliver again, an upset cannot be ruled out. Bangladesh’s three T20I victories over India also offer some encouragement: in two of those wins, they restricted India to 102 and 109 respectively.
The semifinal will begin at 8:30pm Bangladesh time. Bangladesh will hope this time they can break their recent cycle of falling short and book a place in the Asia Cup final.
-HIS
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
