Bangladesh retain core in 15-member squad but leave out Sharmin

Bangladesh will carry the formula of their most successful year in T20s into the Women's World T20 scheduled to begin next month in the West Indies. The core of the team that won its maiden Asia Cup title in June this year, and then the qualification tournament in the Netherlands in July, has been retained.

Twenty-four-year old batsman Sharmin Sultana - who was in every squad up to this point this year - misses out but has been named among four stand-bys. Experienced allrounder Salma Khatun will lead a side that has won 12 out of 20 T20Is this year. Bangladesh's bowling, particularly legspinner Rumana Ahmed and left-arm spinner Nahida Akter, will have to keep the team afloat throughout the competition. Rumana is the second highest wicket-taker this year, with 26 wickets at 10.73.

The batting depends largely on Shamima Sultana and Fargana Hoque who have both scored two fifties each this year. But the likes of Nigar Sultana and Ayesha Rahman have to improve upon their lowly batting average.

Bangladesh have been placed in Group A where they will face the hosts West Indies in Providence on November 9. They will face England (Nov 12), Sri Lanka (Nov 14) and South Africa (Nov 18).