Salma Khatun Pioneers Historic Role in Bangladesh Women’s Cricket Panel

On Saturday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board made a landmark announcement: Salma Khatun, a former captain of the national women’s team, has been appointed to the women’s selection panel. Salma is the first woman from Bangladesh to be included in this panel, joining Sazzad Ahmed, the Chief of the Women’s Selection panel, and Sojol Chowdhury, who focuses on age-group teams.

Iftekhar Rahman Mithu, Chairman of BCB’s media committee, highlighted the significance of this appointment. He stated, “In our recent meeting, we decided to appoint Salma Khatun as the first-ever female selector for the national women’s team. Her experience and leadership will be invaluable as she works with Shipon, the current chief selector for the women’s side.”

Salma Khatun has had a remarkable career, playing 46 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 95 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for Bangladesh from 2011 to 2023. Recognized by the ICC as the top bowler and all-rounder in 2014-15, she captained Bangladesh from 2008 to 2015 and has been a cornerstone of women’s cricket in the country. The BCB sees her inclusion as a revolutionary step towards enhancing women’s cricket in Bangladesh.

In men’s cricket, the board also announced the appointment of former national pacer Hasibul Hossain Shanto to the men’s national selection panel. This position became available after Hannan Sarkar decided to focus on his coaching career. The panel is currently led by Gazi Ashraf Hossain, with former left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak also serving as a member.

Iftekhar further explained, “With a vacancy in the men’s selection panel, Hasibul Hossain Shanto was the natural choice due to his extensive experience and involvement with the Bangladesh team. He will work alongside Abdur Razzak and Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu. Shanto’s background and expertise make him an ideal fit for this role.”

This announcement underscores Bangladesh’s dedication to enhancing its national cricketing structure by drawing on the expertise of its seasoned players.

© Cricbuzz