The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has taken a landmark decision to appoint women selectors to the national women’s team setup. This move came after a marathon six-hour BCB board meeting, held at Mirpur’s Sher‑e‑Bangla National Stadium, where President Aminul Islam Bulbul confirmed that the board will soon appoint women selectors, expanding the panel beyond the current sole male selector, Sazzad Ahmed.
Bulbul emphasized that this initiative is “a step towards more inclusive and representative governance within Bangladesh cricket.”
“We have decided to include women selectors for the national women’s team soon,” said BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul after the meeting. He also confirmed that the board is looking to expand the selection panel by appointing an additional selector.
The Bangladesh women’s cricket made their debut when they played, and won, two matches against Thailand in July 2007, before participating in and winning the 2007 ACC Women’s Tournament.
Bangladesh earned One-Day International (ODI) status in 2011 following a fifth-place finish at the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier. They later made their debut in a major global tournament as hosts of the 2014 ICC Women’s World Twenty20.
The Bangladesh women’s cricket team has surged from modest beginnings to continental champions. Their landmark Asia Cup win in 2018 and strong performances in World Cups and bilateral series reflect increasing depth and ambition. Yet, consistency remains a challenge, especially in global tournaments where they’re finding their feet among top-tier nations.
Bangladesh was originally set to host the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and thereby secure automatic qualification, but Bangladesh lost hosting rights due to political unrest, with the tournament relocated to the United Arab Emirates. Despite the setback, they registered their first win in a T20 World Cup since 2014, defeating Scotland before exiting in the group stage.
With the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup on the horizon, Bangladesh have taken a crucial step forward in their journey. They successfully qualified for the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup after finishing second in the global qualifying tournament. Posting a 3-2 win-loss record, Bangladesh edged past the West Indies on net run rate to secure their spot.
This qualification marks another significant achievement in their growing stature in international women’s cricket and presents a valuable opportunity to build momentum ahead of the marquee event. BCB also introduced national contracts for 30 more women cricketers and performance-based bonuses by late 2024. Alongside the recent announcement, women selectors are being added, marking a major governance milestone.
The decision to appoint women selectors isn’t just symbolic, it’s a tangible move toward representation, equity and recognition. For the Bangladesh women’s team, it’s further reinforcement that their struggle for excellence both on and off the field is supported by a changing governance narrative. Continued investment in grassroots development, stronger domestic pathways and inclusive administration could see the Tigresses not just competing but thriving on the biggest stages.
(Inputs sourced from tbs news)
