Tomorrow, the Bangladesh Women’s team will go for Sri Lanka to play their first-ever bilateral series. In addition to three T20Is, they will play three ODIs against Sri Lanka.
Two seasoned players, Salma Khatun and Rumana Ahmed, were omitted from the 16-player roster that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had previously announced for the visit. In response to her exclusion, which caused a stir in the cricket community over the Eid holidays, the latter had already launched a fierce attack against the team administration.
Manjurul Islam, the women’s selector, stated that Salma and Rumana, who have a combined 274 caps in international cricket, are resting due to the demanding schedule this year. Rumana claimed that Salma was dropped on the pretense of rest, but Salma remained mum on the subject.
This is the first time in ODI history that Bangladesh would be without these two stalwarts. But in February of this year, at the Women’s T20 World Cup, the squad played a game without these two players. Aside from Salma and Rumana, other players who were dropped off the roster were young pacer Marufa Akter and opener Sharmin Akter. Sultana Khatun is the team’s new face.
Both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have accumulated two points thus far, and after six games, Sri Lanka is now in eighth place. After three games, Bangladesh is eighth in the Women’s Championship points standings after earning two points from a New Zealand match that was abandoned.
Bangladesh squad: Nigar Sultana Joty (capt), Fargana Hoque Pinky, Shamima Sultana, Fahima Khatun, Murshida Khatun, Jahanara Alam, Sanjida Akther Maghla, Sobhana Mostary, Lata Mondal, Shorna Akter, Nahida Akter, Fariha Islam Trisna, Ritu Moni, Disha Biswas, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun Bangladesh tour of SL April 27: Bangladesh vs SLC Board President’s XI, Colombo Cricket Club April 29: 1st ODI May 2: 2nd ODI May 4: 3rd ODI (all ODIs at P Sara Oval) May 7: Bangladesh vs SLC Board President’s XI, Colombo Cricket Club May 9: 1st T20I May 11: 2nd T20I May 12: 3rd T20I (all T20Is at SSC)
Bangladesh squad: Nigar Sultana Joty (capt), Fargana Hoque Pinky, Shamima Sultana, Fahima Khatun, Murshida Khatun, Jahanara Alam, Sanjida Akther Maghla, Sobhana Mostary, Lata Mondal, Shorna Akter, Nahida Akter, Fariha Islam Trisna, Ritu Moni, Disha Biswas, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun
Bangladesh tour of SL April 27: Bangladesh vs SLC Board President’s XI, Colombo Cricket Club April 29: 1st ODI May 2: 2nd ODI May 4: 3rd ODI (all ODIs at P Sara Oval) May 7: Bangladesh vs SLC Board President’s XI, Colombo Cricket Club May 9: 1st T20I May 11: 2nd T20I May 12: 3rd T20I (all T20Is at SSC)
