Fitness key in Jahanara’s exclusion

Veterans Jahanara Alam and Rumana Ahmed were excluded from Bangladesh's 20-member preliminary squad for the upcoming series against India at home, announced the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

The India series is a big challenge given the ODI leg of the tour, being part of the 2022–2025 ICC Women's Championship, will determine qualification to the 2025 ODI World Cup.

However, more than just results, the team management is focusing on the bigger picture -- by bringing up younger stars to build a more competitive unit for the 2024 T20 World Cup next year in Bangladesh.

The team management are of the belief that the team could have performed better in last few assignments.

Unlike Rumana, however, veteran Salma Khatun returned after being dropped from the last series. Meanwhile, pacer Marufa Akter returned to the squad after sitting out the Lankan series due to academic involvement.

The main reason for the changes, according to sources, were the calamity in fielding. It all came down to fitness issues in the end.

"Most of our defeats have come due to fielding, so we are emphasising more on our fitness. If you see our progress from last year, we could have won some series but that didn't happen. It's high time we pick some young players. We have the 2024 World Cup at home," a member of the team management told The Daily Star on conditions of anonymity.

The presence of younger stars such as Rabeya Khan, Shorna Akter and Sanjida Akter Meghla certainly gives indications of current requirements.

Asked why Salma had been included, a source informed that off-spinning options were required due to the presence of left-handers in the India lineup. Salma was the highest wicket-taker in the recently concluded Women's DPL with 17 scalps.

Along with Marufa and Salma, Shathi Rani and Dilara Akter also returned to the squad for the upcoming series.

The Tigresses had been undergoing training camp on an individual basis and following the Eid-ul-Adha vacations, they will report back for the camp on June 30 before their first training session commences on June 1.

India are set to arrive in the country on July 6 to play three T20Is and as many ODIs against the hosts, scheduled to take place in Mirpur from July 9 to 22.

The tour is the first to be hosted by Bangladesh that falls under the 2022-2025 FTP cycle. After failing to win the preceding two series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka -- part of ICC's Women's Championship 2022-2025 -- Bangladesh occupy eighth spot with four points in six matches.