Bangladesh names 17-player squad for New Zealand tour

The 17-player Bangladesh Women’s squad, which will play New Zealand in three T20 Internationals and as many ODIs, has recruited four uncapped players: Rabeya Khatun, Disha Biswas, Dilara Akhter, and Marufa Akter.

Among the athletes, Marufa Akter is a seamer; Biswas is a pacer; Rabeya is an all-around legspinner; and Dilara is a wicketkeeper-hitter. The Under-19 team recently trounced Malaysia at home, and Rabeya, Biswas, and Dilara were part of it. Disha and Rabeya both took eight wickets off of them. 157 runs, including two half-centuries, were scored by Dilara in four innings.

There was no place on the team for Shohely Akhter, Sobhana Mostary, or Shamima Sultana. Only 50 runs were scored by wicketkeeper-batter Shamima in three Asia Cup contests.

Mostary has also been having trouble lately, scoring just 27 runs in her past six T20I innings. Shohely had a two-wicket game at the Asia Cup.

The first game in the T20I series will be played on December 2, followed by games two and three on December 4 and 7, respectively. The team will then continue the ODI series. The first ODI will be played on December 11, followed by the second and final matches on December 14 and 17, respectively. Bangladesh’s first task in the current season of the ICC Women’s Championship will be the ODI series.

Squad: Fargana Hoque, Ritu Moni, Lata Mondol, Salma Khatun, Nahida Akter, Murshida Khatun, Jahanara Alam, Fahima Khatun, Sanjida Akther, Fariha Islam, Marufa Akter, Rabeya Khatun, Dilara Akter, and Disha Biswas. Nigar Sultana (captain and wicketkeeper).