
Soccer-Butler's Bangladeshi battlers secure historic Women's Asian Cup spot
July 7 - Few expected Bangladesh to stamp their ticket to the Women's Asian Cup at a qualifying tournament last week after a year in which they had failed to win a game and lost some of their most experienced players.
Ranked 128th in the world and 25th in Asia, the Bengal Tigresses headed to Myanmar without all-time top-scorer Sabina Khatun, who led a walk out in protest at English coach Peter Butler in February.
Bangladesh defied the odds, however, by winning all three games in Yangon to top their group and secure one of only 12 spots in Australia next year, their first appearance at the continental tournament.
"I'm really proud of the players ... these girls have sacrificed a lot," Butler told Reuters on Sunday, before flying to Dhaka where a large crowd gathered late at night to welcome the team home. "They were put through the mill and they have reaped the rewards."
Butler, a former West Ham United midfielder who has spent two decades coaching clubs and national teams across Asia and Africa, took over in March last year.
"When I came into the national team ... some of the players were picking themselves," the 58-year-old said.
"There was no discipline. Unfortunately, if there's no discipline, you're really on the road to nowhere."
Butler introduced a new training regimen and tried to bring through some younger talent, leading to the rebellion of a group of established players.
They sent a letter to the federation calling for Butler's dismissal and accusing him of favouritism, dividing the team, making inappropriate comments about their personal lives and insulting them.
"No coach likes to be accused of things that are totally unfounded and untrue," Butler said.
"It was lies, more lies, and it seems like it's never going to end. It can be tedious and tiring.
"I didn't have a personal agenda... at the end of the day, what I've done has been for the betterment, the good of Bangladeshi football."
The rebellion fizzled out when the players signed new contracts in March, although Khatun, Sanjida Akhter and Masura Parvin have not played for the country since.
'A COMPETITIVE EDGE'
Butler ploughed on with his new regimen, placing a big focus on fitness and making big demands on the players.
"It had five o'clock wake-up calls, six o'clock starts, 90-minute sessions, high-tempo, high-intensity. Not easy," he said.
"I think it was a defining moment of change in Bangladesh football when discipline came into the forefront where previously there was none."
In a culture where seniority is highly prized, he also continued with his mission to bring younger talent through to complement the veterans.
More than half of the squad he picked for last week's qualifying tournament were under 20 years old, players he said were previously not given an opportunity.
"Young players bring a competitive edge... it takes people out of their comfort zones. That's what I've done, I've shaken it up," he said.
Bangladesh started their Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a 7-0 win over Bahrain, but the real test for Butler's team arrived when they took on hosts Myanmar in a decisive battle for the group's single qualifying slot.
Ritu Porna Chakma, one of the rebel players, scored a brace to secure a 2-1 win over Myanmar, ranked 55th in the world. Bangladesh rounded out their group games with a 7-0 win over Turkmenistan on Saturday.
"Our brand of football really surprised a lot of people," Butler said. "You've got to have the belief, and I had the belief in my players."
Butler, however, was not sure whether he would continue in his role, with his contract ending soon.
"I don't even know if I'll be in charge going into the next tournament. I don't know what my future holds," he said.
"Whether I'm there or not there is not important. I've achieved what I set out to achieve... we got there, and it's history.
"I'd like to think I've helped change the women's football landscape in Bangladesh."
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
India women register first-ever T20I series win in England; take unassailable 3-1 lead
Richa Ghosh and Jemimah Rodrigues of India (Photo by) On July 9, 2025, the Indian women's cricket team scripted history by winning their first-ever T20I series in England. The moment carried even more weight because exactly 26 years ago, on July 9, 1999, India had won their first-ever ODI series on English soil. The symmetry of dates makes this achievement all the more special. India took a 3-1 lead in the five-match T20I series with a dominant six-wicket victory at Old Trafford in Manchester. Chasing a target of 127, the visitors reached the finish line in the 17th over, thanks to a composed innings from Jemimah Rodrigues , who hit the winning runs. Shafali Verma gave India a quick start with a 19-ball 31, while Smriti Mandhana added 32 at the top. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur , playing in her 333rd international match, contributed a crucial 26 runs. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Earlier in the match, England managed only 126 for 7 in their 20 overs. Sree Charani starred with the ball for India, taking 2 for 30. Radha Yadav and Deepti Sharma bowled economical spells to keep the pressure on. The fielding effort was sharp as well, with Arundhati Reddy taking three catches. Poll Which player do you think will have the biggest impact in the final match? Harmanpreet Kaur Smriti Mandhana Sree Charani Deepti Sharma This win is a major milestone for India's women's team, who have shown great consistency and depth throughout the series. After a narrow loss in the third T20I, the bounce back was clinical. With one game to go, India will aim to finish the series 4-1 and build further momentum heading into future tours. Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!


India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Lord's Test: Will the past come back to haunt under-pressure England?
Lord's is a historic venue in English cricket, but it hasn't quite become a fortress for the home side. Of the 145 matches played at the Home of Cricket since England's first appearance there in 1884, they have won 59 and lost their overall record, England have faced a different kind of challenge over the past decade - subcontinental teams have frequently unsettled them at Lord's. Since 2014, England have played eight Tests at the venue against teams from the subcontinent, losing four, winning just two, with the remaining two ending in they prepare to take the field on Saturday against Shubman Gill's India - who are riding high after a record-breaking 336-run victory at Edgbaston, their biggest overseas win in Test history - England will be acutely aware of the stakes. Another setback could leave them on the back foot in the Test record against subcontinent teams since 2014England vs Sri Lanka, 29 Aug 2024 - England won by 190 runsEngland vs India, 12 Aug 2021 - England lost by 151 runsEngland vs India, 9 Aug 2018 - England won by innings & 159 runsEngland vs Pakistan, 24 May 2018 - England lost by 9 wicketsEngland vs Pakistan, 14 Jul 2016 - England lost by 75 runsEngland vs Sri Lanka, 9 Jun 2016 - Match drawnEngland vs India, 17 Jul 2014 - England lost by 95 runsEngland vs Sri Lanka, 12 Jun 2014 - Match drawnIndia might just be licking their lips as Lord's has given them quite a bit to cheer for over the Ishant Sharma and Kohli's 'Hell'India's victory at Lord's in 2014 was more than just a Test win - it was a seismic shift. After 28 long years, they conquered the Home of Cricket with heart, grit, and a fire that refused to dim. Ajinkya Rahane's masterful century laid the foundation, but it was Ishant Sharma's furious short-ball spell, 23-6-74-7, that shattered England's hosts collapsed, stunned by India's aggression and hunger. That 95-run win wasn't just historic - it was haunting. As India returns to Lord's, the ghosts of 2014 linger. England will remember the bounce, the roar, the fall - and deep down, they'll feel the wasn't the only time India dominated England at Lord's in recent years. The 2021 Test match was another chapter in that growing England's final innings, needing 272 to win, Virat Kohli gathered his team in a huddle and delivered a message that lit a fire: "For 60 overs, they should feel like hell." It wasn't just motivation - it was a clear plan. Kohli wanted relentless pressure, and his bowlers Siraj, and company came in hard, giving England no room to breathe. The hosts had no real answers - their technique, temperament, and confidence all came under fire. India's aggression didn't just challenge them; it broke English batting collapsed under the weight of the moment, bowled out for 120 in just 51.5 overs. India secured a memorable 151-run win - a triumph built on belief, fire, and Kohli's searing motivation?Former England captain Kevin Pietersen said teams are especially motivated when playing a Test match at Lord's. Pietersen, who played 104 Tests for England, added that the hosts will need to bring their A-game to challenge India."I know it's 1-1, and I know that Lord's will be a great Test match - it always is. The problem for England is that whenever I played there, and whenever we played there, it always brought out the best in the opposition," Pietersen told Sky Sports."You turn up at Lord's, and it's such a historic ground that something just happens. Whether it was Australia, South Africa, or India, they always turned up and played well - because it's the place where you want to get on the honours it's going to be hard for England," Pietersen the first Test, where England won by five wickets, chasing down 371, it seemed the hosts were poised for a series win. However, India turned the tables in Birmingham. With everything still to play for, the Lord's Test could be the make-or-break moment in deciding the series outcome.- EndsYou May Also Like

Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
State of Origin 2025: Queensland thrash New South Wales in deciding Game 3 to win rugby series
Queensland delivered an inspired performance to stun New South Wales 24-12 in Sydney and clinch the 2025 State of Origin series in front of a roaring crowd of 80,256. Playing for captain Cameron Munster just days after the passing of his father, the Maroons surged to a 20-0 halftime lead and never looked back. The series saw dramatic momentum swings, with New South Wales dominating the opener in Brisbane, only for Queensland to bounce back with a thrilling 26-24 win at the neutral venue in Perth last month to force a decider. — NRL (@NRL) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo Tom Dearden , who won the Wally Lewis Medal , was the hero of the game as he scored two tries helping Queensland lift the Origin shield for the 25th time and won their ninth decider in the last 11 series. — NRL (@NRL) Despite being heavy favourites and having dominated much of the first two games, NSW were overpowered by Queensland's fierce physicality and relentless defence. Live Events Debutant Gehamat Shibasaki set up Xavier Coates for a try, while Harry Grant powered through a disjointed Blues line to cap off a flawless first half. — NRL (@NRL) Although Stephen Crichton gave the Blues hope with a second-half try, Dearden's second sealed the win. It marked a tough start for returning Blues coach Laurie Daley , who was previously at the NSW from 2013-17, while Queensland's unity and grit under Munster's leadership stole the spotlight. "We weren't good enough and at the end of the day we probably didn't react well to their defence," Blues star Nathan Cleary said.