Bangladesh are one win from an Asia Cup final, and standing in their way is the giant they know better than most: India.
Sharmin Akhter Supta is clear about what that means.
“If we don't even believe that we can beat India, then we shouldn't even dream of becoming Asia Cup champions,” she said on Wednesday, on the eve of the semi-final at Dubai International Stadium. There was no bravado in her voice, just a hard-edged conviction that this is the price of ambition in Asian women’s cricket.
Belief before the big name
Bangladesh squeezed past UAE to reach the last four, defending a modest 103 for 7 thanks to their bowlers and a nervy, vital stand between Sharmin and Nahida Akter. It was not pretty. It did not need to be. It kept the dream alive.
Now comes India, the benchmark and the barrier.
“I firmly believe that to win the Asia Cup, you inevitably have to face India at some stage, whether in the semifinal or the final. You must have that self-belief,” Sharmin told Cricbuzz.
The dressing room, she insists, lifts itself when the opposition is in blue.
“When playing against India, there’s naturally a strong positive vibe among everyone to perform well, as India is a big name in Asian cricket. I feel that this positive energy motivates the entire squad. If we perform well, there’s no doubt we’ll create a strong chance of winning.”
This is not a side cowed by reputation. They have lived through the high point once before.
Echoes of 2018
Every time India appear across the boundary rope, 2018 hangs in the air. Malaysia. The trophy. The underdogs who refused to stay in their lane.
Sharmin goes back there quickly.
“Even back in the 2018 Asia Cup when we became champions, we had to beat India in the group stage, and then we defeated them again in the final to claim the trophy,” she said, the memory still sharp.
Since that night, the numbers have swung heavily India’s way. In T20Is between the sides, India have won 12 of the last 13. Bangladesh have managed just one victory in that stretch. The gulf is real, the record brutal.
Yet Sharmin keeps circling back to that old script.
“As I mentioned earlier, back in 2018, we beat India twice on our way to becoming champions. India is undeniably a big name, but if you can beat them, the path to the Asia Cup becomes much clearer.”
That is the template: beat India, clear the path. The message inside the camp is blunt—nothing less will do.
Bowling vs batting: strength against strength
On paper, the semi-final is a clash of strengths. India’s power sits in their batting; Bangladesh’s heartbeat is their bowling.
“Yes, they are a formidable team whose primary strength lies in their batting, whereas our primary strength is our bowling,” Sharmin said. “If we can back up our bowling with an improved batting performance and play well on that particular day, I genuinely believe we can beat India.”
That “particular day” is everything. Sharmin refuses to be consumed by names or reputations when she walks out to bat.
“As for how I prepare myself, when I step onto the field, I don't overthink who the bowler is or how big the opposition is, focusing on that beforehand doesn't help. We never truly know what will happen on the field. On any given day, even the best bowler can have an off day, and an unexpected bowler can deliver an outstanding spell. That specific day is what really matters, how well your plans are designed and how effectively you execute them.”
No sleep lost, no shadow boxing with India’s stars in her mind. Just plans and execution.
A scrap against UAE, and a warning
Their last outing was a reminder of both their vulnerability and their resilience. Against UAE, Bangladesh laboured to 103 for 7. Only a 42-run stand between Sharmin and Nahida dragged them to three figures on a slow, sticky track.
Sharmin top-scored with 38 off 31 balls, with three fours. Nahida’s 16* off 26 was less eye-catching, but essential. From there, the bowlers did what they do best, sealing a 34-run win.
“Alhamdulillah that we were able to win yesterday's match (against UAE), even though it was a low-scoring one. Still, I’d say we won because of our strength, our bowling strength,” Nahida told Cricbuzz.
She did not spare the batters, or the pitch.
“I’d also point out that given the behavior of the pitch, or the kind of wicket we've been playing on here, I feel it’s a bit of a slow-track wicket. On a pitch like that, I reckon 120–130 runs is a perfect total. That said, we were probably 10–15 runs short.”
That gap, that missing 10–15 runs, could be fatal against India. Nahida knows it.
“Having said that, I know our batters are capable of much more. We have that belief in them, and we always hold that faith. InshaAllah, our batters will make a strong comeback.”
Clear plans, no illusions
There is no mystery about what awaits them in Dubai. India’s batting depth is well documented; their aura in Asian women’s cricket is established.
“Since we have a match against India tomorrow, we definitely have a team plan in place. We will try to bowl according to that plan,” Nahida said. “That said, India is a big team - as we all know - and everyone is well aware of their batting strength.”
For Bangladesh, the semi-final strips the contest down to its essentials. Knockout cricket leaves no room for awe.
“In a knockout game, you have to treat whichever opponent you face as a tough team,” Sharmin had said earlier. “You have to play with enjoyment, aim to minimize mistakes on that given day, and play strictly to win. At the end of the day, in a semifinal, how big a team is doesn't really matter all that much.”
They have beaten India on this stage before. They have also been repeatedly reminded of the gap since.
Now, with a bowling attack they trust and a batting unit under pressure to respond, Bangladesh walk into Dubai knowing exactly what this game represents: a chance to relive 2018, or a fresh reminder of how far they still have to climb.
