Cricket

Bangladesh's women's cricket team has recalled experienced duo Rumana Ahmed and Jahanara Alam for the upcoming Women's Asia Cup, scheduled to begin next month. The decision comes after Bangladesh suffered consecutive T20I series defeats to Australia (3-0) and India (5-0).Rumana, an all-rounder, and Jahanara, a seamer, have played 134 and 130 internationals, respectively. However, they had been omitted from the squad for over a year as the selectors focused on building a younger team.Their impressive performances in the Dhaka Premier Division Women's Cricket League (DPDWCL) have prompted their recall. Jahanara emerged as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 25 scalps in nine matches, while Rumana claimed 17 wickets."Rumana and Jahanara were out of the team for 12 months. We have to keep in mind that there is very little training facilities for our female cricketers, so it is to their credit that they held on to their fitness," said women's chief selector Sajjad Ahmed. "They performed very well in the Premier League. It is a good news for us that we can get their experience in our squad, which allows us to have a balanced squad."The squad also includes call-ups for opener Ishma Tanjim and left-arm spinner Sabikun Nahar. Tanjim is known for her free-flowing batting style and high strike rate, while Nahar is expected to provide support to Nahida Akter in the spin department.Bangladesh have left out Habiba Islam, Fahima Khatun, Sobhana Mostary, and Fariha Trisna from the team that played against India in May."I think we have a great prospect in the Asia Cup this year," said Sajjad. "We open the tournament against Sri Lanka. If we win that game, we have a great chance of playing in the semi-final."Bangladesh will face Sri Lanka on July 20, followed by matches against Thailand and Malaysia on July 22 and 24, respectively.

The 2024 Women's Asia Cup, scheduled from July 19 to 28 in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, promises to be an exciting spectacle in the T20 format. The tournament has expanded to eight teams, including hosts Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, UAE, Nepal, Thailand, and Malaysia.Unlike the previous edition, the teams will be divided into two groups. Group A comprises India, Pakistan, UAE, and Nepal, while Group B features Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Malaysia. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals on July 26, followed by the title clash on July 28.The tournament will serve as a crucial warm-up for teams ahead of the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September. India, the defending champions and most successful team with seven titles, will be eager to retain their crown.The Asia Cup will also showcase the growing talent pool in women's cricket in Asia. The inclusion of female umpires, as in the previous edition, is a testament to the ACC's commitment to promoting women in the sport.The tournament schedule is as follows:* July 19: Pakistan vs Nepal, India vs UAE* July 20: Malaysia vs Thailand, Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh* July 21: Nepal vs UAE, India vs Pakistan* July 22: Sri Lanka vs Malaysia, Bangladesh vs Thailand* July 23: Pakistan vs UAE, India vs Nepal* July 24: Bangladesh vs Malaysia, Sri Lanka vs Thailand* July 26: Semi-finals* July 28: FinalThe Asia Cup will provide a platform for players to showcase their skills and compete against the best in Asia. It will also be an opportunity for fans to witness the growth and development of women's cricket in the region.