Will Tigresses be battle-ready for World Cup?

Bangladesh women's team may have secured their ticket to this year's ICC Women's World Cup in India, but their qualification was anything but convincing.

After a campaign that highlighted both grit and glaring weaknesses, they now face the daunting task of preparing for the marquee event without any confirmed international series in the lead up to the marquee event.

Earlier in Pakistan, in a campaign culminating with a narrow escape, Nigar Sultana Joty led from the front as the Tigresses began the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifiers on a high note, dispatching lower-ranked teams Thailand, Scotland, and Ireland in the 50-over contests.

But the real test came against stronger opposition -- and that's where the cracks appeared. Losses to West Indies and hosts Pakistan, both full-member nations, left Bangladesh's fate hanging by a thread.

In a twist of luck, a miscalculation by West Indies in their match against Thailand allowed Joty and Co to sneak into the main event by the slimmest of margins -- a superior net run rate of just +0.01.

Despite the outcome, few in the camp were satisfied with the overall performance.

"We played well against associate nations but couldn't do well against regular playing nations. We are trying to find out why," women's chief selector Sazzad Ahmed Shipon told The Daily Star yesterday, echoing concerns about the team's ability to compete at the highest level.

"We are trying to improve in a few areas like fielding and batting. We are also aware that the result wasn't so good that we should be overwhelmed. To be honest, we didn't expect to qualify like this," he added.

A major concern heading into the World Cup is the batting department. While the bowling and fielding units have shown some promise, the inconsistency and fragility of the top and middle-order batters have been recurring issues.

Although the Tigresses broke their highest total twice in the Qualifiers, their performances against the hosts and West Indies left much to be desired. If this trend is not addressed promptly and continues against the big guns, it could prove costly in India.

Adding to the uncertainty is the lack of international fixtures before the World Cup. The ICC's Future Tour Programme (FTP) doesn't include any scheduled series for Bangladesh, prompting Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to scramble for opportunities.

Discussions are ongoing with Sri Lanka Cricket regarding a possible away series. A tri-series involving Pakistan and South Africa was initially considered but has since been shelved.

In the meantime, the Tigresses have embarked on a 29-day training camp featuring fitness and skill sessions across Mirpur, Cox's Bazar, and BKSP. Several national players are also participating in a series against South Africa's Emerging side, offering some valuable match practice.

The Emerging Asia Cup next month could also provide much-needed exposure for fringe players. "There are a total of six to seven players in the emerging team squad who have played for the national team," said women's national team manager S M Golam Faiyaz.

While BCB plans to install a full local coaching staff ahead of the tournament -- with head coach Sarwar Imran set to be joined by the emerging team's coaching panel -- the clock is ticking.

As things stand, Bangladesh's World Cup preparation remains precariously reliant on domestic training and internal matches, which may not be enough for a team who are yet to prove themselves against top-tier oppositions.