Jahanara axed for India series "keeping future in mind"

Experienced pace bowler Jahanara Alam failed to make the cut as Bangladesh Cricket Board preliminary squad for the upcoming white-ball series against India, that also marks the return of in-form pacer Marufa Akter, who missed the tour of Sri Lanka for her examination.

Former national skipper Salma Khatun, who picked 17 wickets in the recently-concluded Premier Division Women's Cricket League, also returned to the national setup after being overlooked in the previous series against Sri Lanka. However, another experienced campaigner, Rumana Ahmed, failed to regain her spot in the preliminary squad after being omitted from the previous series.

Apart from Salma and Marufa, Shathi Rani, Sharmin Akter Supta and Dilara Akter also returned to the national squad.

The exclusion of Jahanara and Rumana against high profile Indian side is an indication that team management is looking for fresh faces keeping the future in mind.

A member of the team management echoed the same sentiment.

"I think we need to understand that we have to look at the bigger picture and we have picked certain players keeping the future in mind," a member of the team management told Cricbuzz.

"Look most of defeats in the recent past were largely due to our fielding, because we have given away 30 runs that forced us to think in a different way. With the World Cup coming up next year, we need to have a look at new cricketers," he added.

The players will report for the camp in Dhaka on 30 June. The training will commence on July 1st after the Eid-al-Adha vacation.

The three T20Is will be held on July 9, 11 and 13 while the three ODIs will be played on July 16, 19 and 22 respectively.

The one-day series is a part of the 2022-2025 ICC's Women's Championship which is being contested by 10 teams to determine qualification for the 2025 Women's 50-over World Cup.

All matches will be played at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. The tour marks the first series under the ICC's Women's Future Tours Program 2022-2025 to be hosted by Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Women Squad:

Niger Sultana Joty, Sobhana Mostary, Murshida Khatun, Lata Mondol, Nahida Akter, Mst Fariha Islam Trisna, Mst Shanjida Akther Maghla, Disha Biswas, Rabeya, Shorna Akter, Most. Sharmin Akter Supta, Sultana Khatun, Marufa Akter, Dilara Akter, Shathi Rani, Ritu Moni, Salma Khatun, Shamima Sultana, Fargana Hoque Pinky, Fahima Khatun