Bangladesh have announced a 16-member women’s ODI squad for their historic maiden bilateral series in Australia, with Disha Biswas and Habiba Islam Pinky earning first-time call-ups. The three-match series at Allan Border Field in Brisbane begins on October 9 and will count toward the ICC Women’s Championship.
Historic first bilateral ODI tour of Australia
This tour is a significant marker for Bangladesh women’s cricket because it is their first bilateral ODI assignment on Australian soil. The squad leaves on October 3, and the series schedule includes matches on October 9, 11 and 14, giving Bangladesh a compact three-game sample in conditions that are traditionally challenging for visiting teams.
Bangladesh currently sit eighth in the ICC Women’s Championship standings, so the points on offer in Brisbane carry clear competitive value. In a short series format, every match result can meaningfully affect standings, momentum and selection trends ahead of future major tournaments.
| Series Detail | Information |
|---|
| Format | 3 ODIs |
| Venue | Allan Border Field, Brisbane |
| Dates | October 9, 11 and 14 |
| Competition | ICC Women’s Championship |
| Bangladesh position | 8th |
Nigar Sultana keeps ODI captaincy
Nigar Sultana Joty will continue as ODI captain, with Nahida Akter serving as vice-captain. The board’s decision underlines its trust in Nigar’s record in the 50-over format, where she remains Bangladesh’s most successful ODI captain.
Nigar recently stepped down from the T20I captaincy after the Asian Games bronze-medal defeat to Pakistan, saying she wanted to focus more on batting. Even so, Bangladesh have opted for continuity in ODIs, a format where leadership stability often matters as much as squad balance and bowling depth.
Experience at the core
The squad contains a familiar spine of players, including Marufa Akter, Ritu Moni, Sobhana Mostary, Sharmin Akter Supta, Sarmin Sultana, Farzana Haque, Rabeya Khan and Sultana Khatun. Bangladesh have leaned on this core across recent white-ball assignments, and the Australia tour appears designed to blend that experience with new pace options.
Marufa Akter is expected to lead the pace attack, while Nahida Akter, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun and Sanjida Akter Meghla provide the spin resources. In Australian conditions, that bowling mix will be tested by bounce, pace and the need to hold lines in powerplay overs.
| Bowling Group | Players |
|---|
| Pace options | Marufa Akter, Ritu Moni, Disha Biswas, Habiba Islam Pinky |
| Spin options | Nahida Akter, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, Sanjida Akter Meghla |
Maiden ODI call-ups for Biswas and Habiba
Disha Biswas, a former Bangladesh Under-19 captain, has been rewarded after recent appearances for the Emerging team in South Africa. She is still awaiting her senior international debut, so this tour presents a direct pathway into the top level of women’s ODI cricket.
Habiba Islam Pinky also earns her first ODI squad selection. The 17-year-old right-arm seamer has one international appearance, her T20I debut against India in May 2024, and now joins the pace group for a series that could broaden Bangladesh’s seam-bowling options.
The presence of two uncapped ODI squad members indicates a measured selection strategy. Rather than overhauling the side, Bangladesh have kept the core intact while adding younger seamers who can be evaluated in a high-quality away environment.
Returns strengthen the middle order
There are also several notable returnees. Farzana Haque is back in the ODI setup, Murshida Khatun returns after her last appearance in the West Indies in January 2025, and Sanjida Akter Meghla plus wicketkeeper-batter Dilara Akter have also been recalled.
Murshida’s recent appearance for the Emerging team in South Africa suggests the selectors are rewarding current form and workload readiness. Dilara, who has played three ODIs, last featured at the Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Pakistan in April 2025, giving Bangladesh another wicketkeeping-batting option.
| Player | ODI Status |
|---|
| Disha Biswas | First ODI call-up |
| Habiba Islam Pinky | First ODI call-up |
| Murshida Khatun | Return to squad |
| Farzana Haque | Return to squad |
| Dilara Akter | Return to squad |
Selection balance points to long-term planning
The omissions of Juairiya Ferdous, Fahima Khatun and Fariha Trisna show that Bangladesh have prioritised continuity and role-specific balance over wholesale change. With only three matches in the series, the management appears focused on combinations that can survive pressure in Australian conditions while still offering development opportunities.
In statistical terms, the series matters on two levels: immediate championship points and medium-term squad depth. If Bangladesh can integrate their new seam options without losing batting stability, the tour could provide an important data point for future ODI planning.
The overall picture is one of controlled evolution. Bangladesh have retained their established ODI leadership, preserved their main batting and spin resources, and used the Australia tour to test two promising pace-bowling talents in a landmark series.