There was no place for experienced all-rounder Rumana Ahmed or Shamima Sultana as Bangladesh picked uncapped Taj Nehar and Disha Bishwas for the forthcoming Women鈥檚 T20 World Cup, which begins in the UAE on October 3.听
BCB announced a 15-member squad on Wednesday through video on social media platforms where several expatriates living in different parts of the world announced the names.
Nigar Sultana Joty will lead the side for the second consecutive T20 World Cup.听
Bangladesh have made five changes from the last Asia Cup as Rubya Haider Jhelik, Shorifa Khatun, Ishma Tanjim, and Sabikun Nahar Jesmin missed out with Runama.听
Chief selector of women鈥檚 wing Sazzad Ahmed Shipon said Rumana was dropped because she could not meet their expectations in the last Asia Cup.
鈥榃e had picked Rumana in the Asia Cup as a middle-order batter. She didn鈥檛 do well. Her batting is not up to the mark with T20s nowadays,鈥� said Shipon.
鈥榃e picked Taj Nehar instead of her due to her powerful hitting.鈥�
The other uncapped player, Disha Bishwas, was in the previous T20 World Cup squad, though she had not played a single match. The all-rounder is not in the A team squad, which is currently touring Sri Lanka.
Sathi Rani has returned to the side after top-scoring in the NCL. Bangladesh also picked batter Sobhana Mostary, who has played 38 T20Is and 13 ODIs so far but yet to make a fifty.
Shipon said they didn鈥檛 have many options other than picking her.听
鈥業n the last Asia Cup, Ishma Tanjim played but didn鈥檛 do that well鈥�, the chief selector said.
鈥楽he didn鈥檛 play well in NCL either. That鈥檚 why we had to choose Sobhana Mostary. There鈥檚 another reason. Sobhana can bat at three, and if the team needs it, then she can bat at a lower position.鈥�
Shamima, the senior batter, has recently returned after a long illness. But Shipon said she was yet to find the proper rhythm.
The leg-spinner Fahima Khatun has returned after being dropped for the Asia Cup. She will form a strong spin attack with Nahida Akter, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, and Shorna Akter.听
Bangladesh, the original host of this World Cup, will face Scotland on the opening day at Sharjah.
They will then play against England (October 5, Sharjah), West Indies (October 10, Sharjah) and South Africa (October 12, Dubai) respectively.听
Bangladesh haven鈥檛 won a single game in the last four editions of the competition. But head of women鈥檚 wing at the BCB and former men鈥檚 national team captain Habibul Bashar was hopeful of a win this time.
鈥楾he A team tour helped us very much to get back the winning mojo. The World Cup is a different ball game, but we have prepared well.鈥櫶�
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Squad
Nigar Sultana Joty (captain), Nahida Akter, Murshida Khatun, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Sobhana Mostary, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Jahanara Alam, Dilara Akter, Taj Nehar, Sathi Rani, and Disha Biswas.