Dhaka, 19 November (HS). Sharmin Akhtar and Jahanara Alam have returned to the Bangladesh team for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Ireland. Meanwhile, Taj Neher and Sanjeeda Akhtar have been included in the ODI squad for the first time.
Sharmin missed the T20 World Cup earlier this year and played her last international cricket in July 2023 during the home ODI series against India. 28-year-old Sharmin has played 35 ODIs and 16 T20 matches since making her international debut in 2011. Talking about Jahanara, she is among the three players from Bangladesh who have played at least 50 women’s ODI matches. Jahanara has taken 48 wickets in 52 matches at an average of 30.39.
Middle-order batsman Taj made her international debut in the Women’s T20 World Cup in October, while left-arm spinner Sanjeeda has played 18 T20 matches. This is Bangladesh’s first ODI series after the Australia series in April this year. The selectors have excluded Farzana Akhtar, Sumaiya Akhtar, Disha Biswas and Nishita Akhtar from that team.
Bangladesh has won three out of six ODIs against Ireland. They had won the last bilateral series between the two sides in 2016. This time they will play three ODIs in Dhaka on 27th and 30th November and 2nd December. They will also play three T20 matches in Sylhet on 5, 7 and 9 December. This is Bangladesh’s first international series after the Women’s T20 World Cup held in UAE in October.
Bangladesh ODI team-
Nigar Sultana (captain), Nahida Akhtar, Murshida Khatoon, Fargana Haq, Sharmin Akhtar, Shobhana Mostari, Shorna Akhtar, Ritu Moni, Rabeya Khan, Fahima Khatoon, Marufa Akhtar, Jahanara Alam, Sultana Khatoon, Taj Neher, Sanjeeda Akhtar.
—————
Hindusthan News / Sunil Dubey
