‘Clean-hitter’ Juairiya included while Pinky returns for WC qualifiers

The national women's team squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup qualifiers was announced on Thursday with wicket-keeper batter Juairiya Ferdous included in the squad. Farzana Haque Pinky, who has been out of the T20I scheme of things for a long time, returned to the squad for the ten-team qualifiers in Nepal.

The batter, who featured for Bangladesh in the last U-19 World Cup was picked on the basis of her domestic performances. Juairiya hit 189 runs in the last Women's NCL, scoring at a strike-rate of 131.25.

"Juairiya Ferdous played the last U-19 World Cup and she was an opening batter and also featured in the middle-order. She opened in the Premier League last time and in the NCL she performed strongly. She is a clean-hitter and we want to play a different brand of cricket and we took her in the side thinking of the option of using the Powerplay. She is a prominent player for Bangladesh," BCB women's team chief selector Sazzad Ahmed Shipon told The Daily Star.

While a new face was included, experienced star Farzana Haque Pinky, who last played for the T20I unit in Bangladesh's tour of Sri Lanka in May 2023, has been added to the T20I squad.

"One experienced player got in after a while. She was not in the T20I squad for a while and she got the chance as a backup option. Pinky batted well in the NCL scoring at 95 to 100 strike-rate and finished a few matches. Since we want to play the Powerplay differently, if it backfires, Pinky will support us as a backup option," Sazzad said on Pinky's inclusion.

Bangladesh themselves are returning to the T20I scheme of things after a while following their last T20I series against West Indies at Basseterre.

"We are playing T20s after a while, having last played in January in West Indies. I am hopeful that we will do well in the qualifiers as a full member of the ICC," Sazzad said.

Meanwhile spinner Nishita Akter Nishi was left out owing to injury.

Bangladesh will begin the qualifiers against Group A opponents USA on January 18 before playing Papua New Guinea, Namibia and Ireland on 20, 22 and 24th January respectively.

The top three teams from Group A will advance to the Super 6s, where it will clash against the top 3 teams from Group B. The top four teams in the Super 6s will qualify for the World Cup, scheduled to be held in England and Wales in June and July this year.

Squad:

Nigar Sultana Joty (Captain), Nahida Akter (Vice Captain), Sobhana Mostary, Farzana Haque, Sharmin Akter Supta, Dilara Akter, Juairiya Ferdous, Ritu Moni, Fahima Khatun, Shorna Akter, Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter, Fariha Islam Trisna, Shanjida Akther Maghla, Sultana Khatun

Stand By: Sarmin Sultana, Farjana Easmin, Shorifa Khatun, Fatema Jahan Sonia, Habiba Islam Pinky