Nigar Sultana Joty to lead Bangladesh women in historic Australia ODI series
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Nigar Sultana Joty will captain Bangladesh in a historic three-match women's ODI series against Australia, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announcing a 16-member squad on 30 September 2026. The tour, which begins at Allan Border Field in Brisbane on 9 October, marks a significant milestone for Bangladesh women's cricket as they face one of the game's most dominant sides on Australian soil.
Squad Composition and Key Selections
Spinner Nahida Akter has been named vice-captain for the tour. The squad largely retains the core group that featured for Bangladesh at the Women's Asia Cup and the Asian Games in Japan earlier this month, providing continuity in selection. Pace spearhead Marufa Akter will lead the bowling attack, having cemented her place as one of Bangladesh's primary wicket-taking options in recent months.
Notably, 17-year-old Habiba Islam Pinky has earned a call-up among the pace bowlers, reflecting the selectors' intent to blood young talent at the highest level. Experienced batter Farzana Haque returns to the ODI setup, while Murshida Khatun earns a recall after last representing Bangladesh in January 2025 — a gap of nearly nine months.
Young all-rounder Disha Biswas, who has recently featured for the Bangladesh Emerging side, has been rewarded with senior recognition, signalling a gradual rebuild of the middle order.
Notable Omissions
Several players who travelled to the Asian Games have been left out of the Australia tour squad. Top-order batter Juairiya Ferdous, experienced spinner Fahima Khatun, and all-rounder Shorna Akter are among those not included. The omissions suggest the selectors may be experimenting with the squad's balance ahead of a demanding assignment.
ICC Women's Championship Implications
The three-match series carries direct relevance to the ICC Women's Championship, in which Bangladesh currently occupy eighth place in the standings. Points from this series could meaningfully affect Bangladesh's positioning in the qualification pathway, adding competitive stakes to what is already a challenging away fixture. The tour will also expose the squad to Australian conditions — pace-friendly pitches and bounce levels that differ sharply from the surfaces Bangladesh typically prepare on at home.
Match Schedule
All three ODIs will be played at Allan Border Field, Brisbane. The first match is scheduled for 9 October, the second for 11 October, and the series concludes on 14 October. The full squad is: Nigar Sultana Joty (c), Nahida Akter, Shorna Akter, Marufa Akter, Rabeya Khan, Ritu Moni, Sobhana Mostary, Sarmin Sultana, Sharmin Akter Supta, Shanjida Akther Maghla, Sultana Khatun, Dilara Akter, Farzana Haque, Disha Biswas, Murshida Khatun, Habiba Islam Pinky.
With a mix of seasoned campaigners and emerging names, Bangladesh will be looking to make a statement against the world's top-ranked side as the ICC Women's Championship race intensifies.