Tigresses to leave for Harare today

As part of their preparation for the upcoming Women's ODI World Cup Qualifier 2021 in Zimbabwe, Bangladesh will play a three-match ODI series against the hosts from November 11 in Bulawayo.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 16-member squad, to be led by Nigar Sultana Joty, for the qualifiers. The same side will be playing in the series against Zimbabwe. The Tigresses will depart for Harare today and are expected to arrive in the Zimbabwe capital on November 6.

"With no quarantine protocols required in Zimbabwe, the Bangladesh squad will travel to Bulawayo on November 7 and will have three practice sessions before playing their first ODI on November 11," BCB women's wing manager Towhid Mahmood told The Daily Star yesterday.

The second and third ODI will be held on November 13 and 15 at the same venue.

The women's national team last took the field in March 2020, during the Tigresses' poor display in the ICC Women's Twenty20 World Cup in Australia.

However, a number of members of the national team played for the Bangladesh Women's Emerging side when they hosted South Africa Emerging side in April this year. They also had three residential camps and participated in 18 local matches in the last three months.

Bangladesh, who failed to win a single outing in the T20 World Cup in Australia last year, will be hoping to fare better in the Zimbabwe series under the leadership of the new skipper and take a good momentum to the ODI World Cup qualifiers.

SQUAD: Nigar Sultana (Captain), Murshida Khatun, Nuzhat Tasnia, Fargana Hoque, Rumana Ahmed, Ritu Moni, Nahida Akter, Salma Khatun, Jahanara Alam, Lata Mondol, Fahima Khatun, Fariha Islam, Sharmin Akter, Sobhana Mostary, Khadiza-Tul Kubra, Shanjida Akther.