Dhaka, April 25: Bangladesh selectors have included uncapped top-order batter Sarmin Sultana in their 15-member women's T20I squad for the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka, dropping experienced campaigner Fargana Hoque from the lineup. The announcement was made on Saturday immediately after Sri Lanka sealed the three-match women's ODI series 2-1 in Rajshahi. This T20I assignment holds exceptional significance as it is expected to be Bangladesh's last competitive outing before the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2025 in England, beginning June 12.

Sarmin Sultana's Inclusion and the Batting Reshuffle

Sarmin Sultana, yet to earn her T20I debut, was recalled to the ODI side earlier in 2025 after a prolonged absence but managed a modest return of 42 runs across three matches. Despite her underwhelming numbers, the selectors have backed her potential to strengthen a top order that has looked fragile in the 50-over format.

Fargana Hoque, who made way for Sarmin, had a forgettable ODI series, featuring in just one match and contributing only 11 runs. The selectors appear to be prioritising youth and freshness as the team gears up for the global stage.

The batting lineup will continue to lean on the experience of captain Nigar Sultana, along with Sobhana Mostary and Sharmin Akter, who showed promising signs during the ODI leg. Rebuilding batting consistency will be Bangladesh's foremost challenge heading into the T20I series.

Bowling Unit: Settled but Under Pressure to Deliver

On the bowling front, Bangladesh head into the series with greater clarity. Young pace spearhead Marufa Akter is expected to lead the new-ball attack, while left-arm seamer Fariha Trisna is anticipated to play a pivotal role, particularly on the Sylhet pitches that traditionally offer more assistance to seamers.

The spin contingent remains a core strength, headlined by vice-captain Nahida Akter, supported by Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, and Fahima Khatun. The quartet will be eager to bounce back after struggling to exert sustained pressure in the ODI series against Sri Lanka.

World Cup Preparations: High Stakes Series in Sylhet

This T20I series carries substantial weight beyond just bilateral bragging rights. With the ICC Women's T20 World Cup kicking off in England on June 12, 2025, Bangladesh's coaching staff will use these matches to finalise their preferred XI and iron out tactical inconsistencies exposed during the ODI series.

Bangladesh had emphatically booked their World Cup berth by winning all seven matches in the qualifying tournament held in Nepal — a dominant run that raised expectations. However, the ODI series defeat to Sri Lanka has served as a timely reality check, reminding the team that there is still significant work to do before competing at the highest level globally.

The contrast between their flawless qualifying campaign and their stuttering home ODI performance against Sri Lanka underscores a pattern seen in Bangladesh women's cricket: strong performances against lower-ranked opposition but inconsistency against competitive Asian rivals. The T20I series offers a crucial window to address these gaps.

Full Squad at a Glance

Squad: Nigar Sultana (captain), Nahida Akter (vice-captain), Dilara Akter, Sobhana Mostary, Fahima Khatun, Sharmin Akter, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Rabeya Khan, Sarmin Sultana, Marufa Akter, Fariha Trisna, Sultana Khatun, Sanjida Akter Meghla, Juairiya Ferdous.

With the Women's T20 World Cup 2025 now firmly on the horizon, all eyes will be on how Bangladesh's batting unit responds in Sylhet — and whether Sarmin Sultana can seize this opportunity to cement her place in the national setup before the tournament begins.