Joty eyes jolt in final T20 WC dress rehearsal

Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty is looking to provide a much-needed electric shock to her own batting form as the Tigresses enter their final T20 World Cup dress rehearsal against Sri Lanka, starting on Tuesday at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Following a lean spell in the recently concluded One Day International series in Rajshahi, where her timing appeared to desert her at crucial junctures, Joty is determined to reinvent herself for the shortest format. Admitting that her strike rate fell below her own high standards, the skipper is ready to trade caution for aggression in the tea capital.

"T20 is about batting with intent," Joty said ahead of the opener. "The goal now is to bat according to the situation but with a much better strike rate. Whether I’m anchoring or finishing, I need to provide that spark the team needs."

The move to Sylhet represents more than just a change in scenery; it is a chance for redemption. After "missing a massive opportunity" to clinch the ODI series despite an early lead, Joty views this three-match showdown as a vital audition for the global stage.

With the World Cup fast approaching, the skipper is eager to gauge exactly how prepared her side is for the challenges ahead. Tactically, the Tigresses are expected to shake up the top order, with Shamima Sultana drafted in to provide a "genuine" opening backup.

"We need a plan if the regular pair falters," Joty noted.

Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu, however, remains a formidable roadblock. The visiting captain acknowledged the Tigresses' rapid evolution over the last six-seven years but warned that her side is using this "crucial" final international series to blood newcomers and finalise their own World Cup blueprints.