Nigar Sultana Joty to lead Bangladesh women in historic Australia ODI series

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Nigar Sultana Joty to lead Bangladesh women in historic Australia ODI series

Synopsis

Bangladesh women are set for their most significant away assignment in years — a three-match ODI series against Australia at Allan Border Field starting 9 October, with ICC Women's Championship points on the line. Captain Nigar Sultana Joty leads a 16-member squad that blends experienced returners like Farzana Haque with 17-year-old debutant Habiba Islam Pinky, as Bangladesh push to improve on their eighth-place standing.

Key Takeaways

Nigar Sultana Joty will captain Bangladesh in a three-match women's ODI series against Australia , starting 9 October at Allan Border Field, Brisbane .
Nahida Akter named vice-captain; Marufa Akter leads the pace attack.
17-year-old Habiba Islam Pinky earns her first senior call-up among the pace bowlers.
Farzana Haque returns to the ODI setup; Murshida Khatun recalled after absence since January 2025 .
The series carries ICC Women's Championship points, with Bangladesh currently eighth in the standings.
Notable omissions include Juairiya Ferdous , Fahima Khatun , and Shorna Akter .

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.

Point of View

But the inclusion of a 17-year-old pacer alongside them tells a different story: this is also a scouting exercise. The ICC Women's Championship context means Bangladesh cannot afford to treat these as developmental games — yet the squad composition signals exactly that tension between building for the future and competing today.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Bangladesh women's ODI series against Australia begin?
The series begins on 9 October 2026 at Allan Border Field in Brisbane, with the second ODI on 11 October and the final match on 14 October.
Who is captaining Bangladesh in the Australia women's ODI series?
Regular captain Nigar Sultana Joty will lead the side, with spinner Nahida Akter as vice-captain for the three-match series.
Why is the Bangladesh women's Australia tour historically significant?
It represents a rare away series for Bangladesh women against one of the sport's top-ranked sides, played in Australian conditions. The series also carries ICC Women's Championship points, making it competitively significant beyond its historic value.
Who are the notable omissions from Bangladesh's Australia tour squad?
Top-order batter Juairiya Ferdous , experienced spinner Fahima Khatun , and all-rounder Shorna Akter — all of whom travelled to the Asian Games — were not included in the 16-member squad.
How does the Australia series affect Bangladesh's ICC Women's Championship standing?
Bangladesh currently sit eighth in the ICC Women's Championship standings. Points from the three-match ODI series against Australia could improve their positioning in the qualification pathway.
Nation Press
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