Bangladesh names a 16-member squad for the white-ball series against Sri Lanka; Salma Khatun and Rumana Ahmed are rested.

Bangladesh (BAN-W) have selected 16 players for the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka Women (SL-W). Beginning on April 29, the Islanders will host Bangladesh in a three-match ODI series and then the same number of T20I matches.

Notably, Salma Khatun and Rumana Ahmed were rested to manage their responsibilities. In addition, pacer Marufa Akter was absent due to her impending Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination. In addition, Sanjida Akther Maghla, Fariha Islam Trishna, Rabeya, and Sultana Khatun without a headdress have been added.

Monjurul Islam, the BCB women’s team selector, is pleased to have Nigar Sultana in the squad and believes she will be able to manage the team effectively in Salma Khatun’s absence.

“We spared Salma and Rumana per the plan of the head coach (Hashan Tillakaratne) because he believes there is an abundance of cricket and we must concentrate on managing their workload. Islam was quoted by Cricbuzz as saying, “We have a lot of home and away games coming up, so we want to devise a strategy to get the most out of our seniors.”

“We need a [complete] product at number six or seven, and it appears that Sultana is qualified. In the coming days, we anticipate her to occupy Salma Khatun’s spot on the team,” he added.

Bangladesh, led by Nigar Sultana Joty, will depart for Sri Lanka on April 25 and play a warm-up match against SLC Board President XI on April 27.

The three WODIs will be contested on April 29, May 2, and May 4 at the P Sara Oval in Colombo, while the three WT20Is will be played on May 9, 11, and 12 at the SSC Ground in Colombo.

Notably, the ODI series is part of the ICC Women’s Championship, in which the hosts presently rank eighth and Bangladesh seventh.

Bangladesh squad: Nigar Sultana Joty (c), Fargana Hoque Pinky, Shamima Sultana, Fahima Khatun, Murshida Khatun, Jahanara Alam, Mst Sanjida Akther Maghla, Sobhana Mostary, Lata Mondol, Shorna Akter, Nahida Akter, Fariha Islam Trishna, Mst Ritu Moni, Disha Biswas, Rabeya, Sultana Khatun.