Bangladesh Announces Women's ODI Squad for Sri Lanka Series

Bangladesh Cricket Board Reveals Squad

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has unveiled a 15-member team for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, commencing on April 20 at home.

Significant Additions and Series Overview

This series represents Bangladesh's first ODI challenge since the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 and is part of the ICC Women's Championship cycle leading to the 2029 World Cup, as reported by the ICC.

A key returnee is Sharmin Sultana, who is back in the ODI squad after a lengthy absence, having last played in 2019. Additionally, uncapped wicketkeeper Juairiya Ferdous has been called up, along with off-spinner Sultana Khatun. Although Juairiya has yet to debut in ODIs, she has previously played for Bangladesh in T20Is during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier in Nepal earlier this year.

The team, captained by Nigar Sultana, showcases a mix of seasoned players and newcomers, with Nahida Akter, Fargana Haque, and Fahima Khatun forming the backbone of the squad.

Historical Context of the Series

This upcoming series will mark only the second bilateral ODI series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and notably, the first to take place in Bangladesh. The last encounter between the two teams was in 2023, where Sri Lanka claimed victory in a one-off series.

In the ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025, the Bangladesh women's cricket team finished seventh in the standings, securing just one win out of seven matches. They began their tournament with a promising seven-wicket victory over Pakistan but subsequently lost all remaining matches.

Looking Ahead to the T20I Series

After the ODI matches, both teams will transition to a three-match T20I series starting on April 28, which will be crucial preparation for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, set to kick off on June 12.

Bangladesh Women's ODI Squad

The squad includes: Nigar Sultana (c), Nahida Akter, Fargana Haque, Sobhana Mostary, Fahima Khatun, Sharmin Akter, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Rabeya Khan, Sarmin Sultana, Marufa Akter, Fariha Islam Trisna, Sultana Khatun, Shanjida Akther Maghla, and Juairiya Ferdous.