Jahanara Alam named in Bangladesh's World Cup squad

Jahanara Alam has been brought back into the Bangladesh squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2022 to be played in New Zealand in March-April. This is going to be Bangladesh’s maiden appearance in the tournament, after they qualified on the basis of their ODI rankings. 

The experienced pacer was not selected in the main squad for the recently-concluded Commonwealth Games 2022 Qualifiers held in Malaysia. She was named in the reserves but not picked in the main squad, based on disciplinary grounds.

According to the report on Cricbuzz, the senior fast bowler had written to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) after her omission, accusing the chief selector, Manjurul Islam of being biased and mismanaging the team. The team management and the selector, in return, said that Jahanara was responsible for dividing the team into two groups. However, the high management of BCB interfered in the matter, sorting it out for good.

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Bangladesh finished second in the CWG Qualifiers recently failing to qualify for the event which is scheduled to be played in Birmingham in July-August. All the players who were part of the squad for that qualification tournament have been retained for the World Cup while Jahanara is the only addition. The report also stated that the Bangladesh board has decided to have a preparation camp for the World Cup from January 29 at the BCB National Cricket Academy.

"We're playing the 50-over world cup for the first time, so I am excited," skipper Nigar Sultana said. "Besides that, each and every player is hopeful of doing well. If you look closely at the team we've put out, you will see that our team has many young talents alongside experienced players who have been performing well over the years. This squad has been playing together for two years. Our team spirit and confidence is at a high level."

Bangladesh squad: Nigar Sultana (c), Salma Khatun, Rumana Ahmed, Fargana Hoque, Jahanara Alam, Shamima Sultana, Fahima Khatun, Ritu Moni, Murshida Khatun, Nahida Akter, Sharmin Akther, Lata Mondol, Sobhana Mostary, Fariha Islam, Suraiya Azmim, Sanjida Akter