Bangladesh women's cricket enjoyed a period of success under Salma Khatun's leadership in 2018, culminating in the Asia Cup victory – the nation's biggest cricketing achievement before the U-19 Men's World Cup triumph. However, recent defeats to India, including a whitewash in the T20I series, have prompted national team selectors to consider a reshape.
Chief selector Shajjad Ahmed Shipon and BCB women's wing head Habibul Bashar are keen to integrate experienced campaigners performing well in the Dhaka League into the T20 World Cup squad. While Rumana Ahmed and Jahanara Alam are on the radar, Salma's age may count against her. Bangladesh's women's team has shown promise since 2014, with the 2018 Asia Cup victory a testament to their collective experience. Both Jahanara, a seasoned IPL campaigner, and Rumana, a vital cog in the team, have found themselves out of favour in recent times. The current squad's struggles with inexperience have further heightened the debate.
Shajjad Ahmed Shipon acknowledges the impact of inexperience on recent performances. He highlights the importance of a balanced squad for the upcoming Asia Cup and World Cup, combining youthful exuberance with seasoned know-how. The good form of senior players in the Dhaka League is a positive sign, fostering healthy competition within the squad.
The controversial tenure of Indian coach Anju Jain (2019-2023) and her assistants is seen as a contributing factor to the sidelining of senior players like Jahanara, Rumana, and Salma. With Jain's departure, the BCB women's department is looking to rebuild the team. Habibul Bashar emphasizes the need for experience on the big stage like the World Cup. He anticipates a blend of youth and experience for the Asia Cup onwards, while acknowledging the strong performances of senior players in the domestic league. The hope is that these veterans can contribute to Bangladesh's success in the upcoming World Cup, held on home soil.
