The Bangladesh Cricket Board has named a 15-woman squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, with the tournament set to kick off in England on June 12. In a notable selection choice, the board has included only two specialist pace options—Marufa Akhter and Fariha Islam Trisna—while bringing back top-order batter Taj Nehar into the group. Nehar’s return also means Sharmin Sultana has not made the cut for the global event. Alongside them, 11 players who were part of Bangladesh’s previous Women’s T20 World Cup campaign have retained their spots for the next edition.
Speaking at the time of announcement, chief selector Sazzad Ahmed underlined the squad-building challenge facing Bangladesh’s fast-bowling ranks. He said that the pace-bowling pathway in Bangladesh is relatively limited, and that injuries often play a decisive role at crucial stages. While he expects English conditions to generally suit pace, he pointed out that recent wicket behaviour has leaned towards helping spinners, particularly in environments familiar to sub-continental teams where the ball turns significantly. “Taking the conditions into consideration, we have kept our faith on spinners,” Ahmed said, adding that the selectors have to accept that there are not many pacers available in the current pipeline.
Ahmed also explained why Taj Nehar was selected in place of Sharmin Sultana, describing Nehar as a versatile option for the batting order. He noted that Sharmin had originally been considered for the ODI format, whereas Nehar can bat across multiple positions, from number one through to six. “We believe that Taj Nehar can play an effective role in solving the team’s problem of scoring runs, especially in the last 5 overs of the innings,” he said. The chief selector further acknowledged that Bangladesh will need to adjust their batting mindset as they move into a major international tournament. He described the team’s defensive approach as a current concern and said the selectors are working on finding solutions, even though it cannot be changed overnight.
In addition, Ahmed addressed the ongoing fitness situation around Nigar Sultana, stating that she is still participating while managing her injuries. He referred to “Joty” having the capability to dominate at the highest level, but said she has been dealing with injury issues for a long time. “Had it not been for this injury she could have gone to a much higher level,” he added.
Bangladesh’s preparation plan also includes a transition phase aimed at acclimatisation to English conditions. The team is due to leave for Edinburgh on May 25, where they will take part in a tri-series that involves Scotland and the Netherlands. After that, Bangladesh will travel to Loughborough to play the official ICC World Cup warm-up matches ahead of the tournament’s start in June.
Bangladesh squad for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
Nigar Sultana Joty (Captain), Nahida Akter (Vice Captain), Sharmin Akter Supta, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Rabeya Khan, Fahima Khatun, Fariha Islam Trisna, Marufa Akter, Shanjida Akther Maghla, Sultana Khatun, Dilara Akter, Juairiya Ferdous, Taj Nehar
