look news india
Dhaka, June 24 (HS). The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday recalled the experienced duo of Rumana Ahmed and Jahanara Alam to the national team for the upcoming Women's Asia Cup, which will be held in Sri Lanka from July 19 to 28.
Rumana last represented Bangladesh during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in South Africa in February 2023, while Jahanara last played for Bangladesh during the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka in May 2023.
“This will be our last competitive tournament before the World Cup. So we opt to make a few changes for this tournament,” Sajjad Ahmed, chief selector of BCB's women's wing, said after the squad was announced on Sunday.
He said, “Rumana and Jahanara were out of the national team for almost a year. Their performance in the Premier League was very good… We wanted to create a balanced team with experienced, talented and young cricketers. Their performance in the Premier League also helped us in building the team.”
Both the senior cricketers were selected after their stellar performances during the recently-concluded Dhaka Premier Division Women's Cricket League 2023-24.
Rumana scored 241 runs and took 17 wickets for champions Mohammedan Sporting Club, while Jahanara, representing Abahani Limited, took the most wickets (25) in the tournament. Apart from these two cricketers, BCB also included uncapped opening batsman Ishma Tanzim and left-arm spinner Sabikun Nahar Jasmin in their 15-member squad for the tournament.
Bangladesh, who are in Group B along with Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Thailand, will open their campaign against the hosts on July 20 before facing Thailand and Malaysia respectively in their remaining group matches on July 22 and 24 in Dambulla.
India are in Group A along with Pakistan, Nepal and UAE. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals to be held on July 26, while the final will be held on July 28.
Bangladesh squad is as follows: Nigar Sultana Joty (captain), Nahida Akhter (vice-captain), Murshida Khatun, Dilara Akhter, Rumana Ahmed, Ritu Moni, Marufa Akhter, Jahanara Alam, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, Rubia Haider Zhelik, Shorna Akhter, Ishma Tanzim, Sabikun Nahar Jasmin and Shorifa Khatun.