Bangladesh have suffered a major personnel blow on the eve of their dual international campaigns, with pace bowler Fariha Islam Trishna ruled out of both the Women’s Asia Cup and the Asian Games due to a thigh injury. Seventeen-year-old right-arm seamer Farjana Yasmin has been drafted into the fifteen-member squad as her replacement.
Trishna underwent medical scans that revealed a grade-two tear in her right thigh. Specialists estimate that the twenty-three-year-old will require four to six weeks of rest and rehabilitation. This timeline closes the door on her participation in the upcoming fixtures in Dubai and the subsequent multi-sport event in Japan. Trishna has long been a vital component of the national bowling attack, featuring prominently in the recent T20 World Cup with her ability to strike with the new ball and apply pressure through the middle overs. Her absence forces the team management to restructure their bowling plans, placing heavier demands on players such as Marufa Akter, Fahima Khatun, Sultana Khatun, Rabeya Khan, and Sanjida Akter Meghla.
For Farjana, the late call-up presents a remarkable opportunity. While she is yet to earn her senior international cap, the teenager has gained valuable experience through age-group cricket and caught the eye of selectors during recent training camps. Coaching staff have noted her variation in pace, clever slower deliveries, and useful lower-order batting capability, making her a versatile option for the shortest format.
Bangladesh find themselves placed in Group B for the Asia Cup alongside reigning champions Sri Lanka, hosts the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia. The campaign begins on 31 August against Indonesia, followed by matches against Sri Lanka on 6 September and the UAE on 8 September. Captain Nigar Sultana Joty has made clear the team’s ambition to push past previous semi-final hurdles and reach the ultimate match. Following the conclusion of the fixtures in Dubai, the squad will travel immediately to Japan for the Asian Games, where they enter at the quarter-final stage to face China on 17 September.
Bangladesh Women’s Squad
Nigar Sultana Joty (Captain)
Nahida Akter (Vice-Captain)
Dilara Akter
Juairia Ferdous
Sharmin Akter Supta
Sharmin Sultana
Sobhana Mostary
Shorna Akter
Ritu Moni
Fahima Khatun
Rabeya Khan
Marufa Akter
Sultana Khatun
Sanjida Akter Meghla
Farjana Yasmin