The ICC Women’s World Cup is just over a month away and Bangladesh, which is one of the eight teams participating in the tournament, announced its 16–member World Cup squad on January 28.
Squad: Nigar Sultana (Captain), Salma Khatun, Rumana Ahmed, Fargana Hoque, Jahanara Alam, Shamima Sultana, Fahima Khatun, Ritu Moni, Murshida Khatun, Nahida Akter, Sharmin Akhter, Lata Mondal, Sobhana Mostary, Fariha Trisna, Suraiya Azmim, Shanjida Akther Maghla
Nigar Sultana:
She will captain the Bangladesh team in the World Cup. She is new to captaincy having led the side in just two ODIs and four T20Is. She is a wicket-keeper and a right-handed batter. She has featured in 23 ODIs, scored 376 runs in 20 innings, including two half centuries and accounted for 17 dismissals behind the stumps.
Salma Khatun:
The senior right arm off spinner is the third most successful bowler of Bangladesh in WODIs. She has 41 wickets in 36 innings at an average of 16.83 and economy of 4.75. Apart from her bowling, she is more than a handy lower middle order bat. The right handed batter has mustered 397 runs in 33 innings, including one half century.
Rumana Ahmed:
The right arm leg spinner is the most successful bowler of Bangladesh in WODIs. The wily spinner has scalped 45 wickets in 41 innings, at an average of 24.26 and economy of 3.63. In addition to her bowling, she is known for her batting having struck 893 runs in 39 innings, including five half centuries. She is also the highest run getter in WODIs for Bangladesh.
Fargana Hoque:
With 841 runs in 40 ODI innings, this right handed top order batter is the second highest run getter for Bangladesh in the 50-over format. She averages 24.02 and has seven half-centuries to her name, which is the most by any Bangladeshi woman. She has been around at the international level since 2011 and is an experienced campaigner.
Jahanara Alam:
The right arm seamer is making her comeback into the Bangladesh side after failing to make a cut for the Commonwealth Games Qualifier. It is known that she was excluded on disciplinary grounds. She has 38 ODI wickets in 40 innings, at an average of 29.10 and economy of 4.08. She is the most experienced fast bowler in Bangladesh team.
Shamima Sultana:
She is a wicket-keeper and a right handed batter. Though she has been around since 2014, she has featured in just the five ODIs for Bangladesh. She has scored 102 runs at an average of 20.40, including one half century.
Fahima Khatun:
She is a right arm leg spinner, having played 18 ODIs for Bangladesh. She has accounted for eight wickets in 15 innings. With the bat, she has 67 runs in 14 innings. She has been with the Bangladesh team since 2013.
Ritu Moni:
She is an all-rounder, who is a right handed batter and a right arm seamer. She made her international debut in 2012 and since then has featured in 19 ODIs. She has registered 189 runs in 15 innings at an average of 21. With the ball, she has picked up five wickets in 15 innings.
Murshida Khatun:
She is a left handed opening batter, who has played nine ODIs for Bangladesh since her debut in 2018. She has scored 161 runs at an average of 23, including one half century. Bangladesh will want its opening batter to provide them with a solid start during the World Cup.
Nahida Akter:
The left arm spinner has been in splendid form picking up five wicket hauls in T20Is and ODIs in the recent past. She has been with the Bangladesh team since 2015. She has featured in 19 ODIs and accounted for 26 wickets in 18 innings. She is an economic bowler and a genuine wicket-taker.
Sharmin Akhter:
She is a right handed opening batter. She has featured in 25 ODIs for Bangladesh since her debut in 2011. She has mustered 368 runs in 24 innings, including three half centuries. She will have to shoulder the responsibility of giving a good start to Bangladesh with the bat.
Lata Mondal:
She is a right handed batter and a right arm seamer. She has played 24 ODIs for Bangladesh, scored 333 runs in 23 innings and scalped 13 wickets in 17 innings. She also has a four-wicket haul in ODIs. She is one of the most experienced players in the side having been around since 2011.
Sobhana Mostary:
She is a right handed batter and a right arm quick, who is relatively new to international cricket. She has played just the four ODIs for Bangladesh since her debut in 2018. Out of the four ODIs in which she has played, she has batted in just the two matches and bowled in a solitary match.
Fariha Trisna:
She is the only left arm seamer in the Bangladesh bowling attack. She made her international debut in 2021 and featured in one match against Zimbabwe during the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, in which she accounted for two wickets.
Suraiya Azmim:
She is a right arm seamer who has played three ODIs for Bangladesh since her debut in 2016. She has accounted for two ODI wickets. Recently, she featured in all the four T20I matches played as a part of Commonwealth Qualifiers and scalped six wickets.
Sanjida Akher Meghla:
She is a right handed batter and a left arm spinner. She has featured in four T20Is, however is yet to make her ODI debut. She has three international wickets to her name so far. If given the chance in the World Cup she would look to make the most of the opportunity.
I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.
