Mental Health issues force Jahanara Alam to take indefinite break from playing cricket, a BCB statement read.
Mental health issues mean that Bangladesh leading women’s pace bowler Jahanara Alam has taken a break from cricket for an indefinite period.
“She had given us a letter stating that she was not mentally ready to play and took a break from cricket for two months,” BCB women’s wing in-charge Habibul Bashar told Cricbuzz on Tuesday. “She even said that if necessary, she should not be kept in the contract. We need to respect that because if someone feels that she is not mentally ready and wants to take a break for some days, we need to accept that. There is no specific time frame for which she is out. Whenever she feels well, she will let us know.”
In her career, Jahanara has participated in 83 T20Is and 52 ODIs. After a one-year hiatus, she rejoined the team in July 2024. Although she was part of the T20 World Cup squad, she did not play in any of the matches. She participated in Bangladesh’s most recent home series against Ireland, although she was benched for the ODIs and only played in the Twenty20 Internationals.
The women’s team roster for the forthcoming West Indies tour was revealed by BCB in the meantime. The Bangladesh women’s team will play three ODIs and three T20Is at Warner Park in Basseterre, St. Kitts, on their first trip to the West Indies.
The dates of the ODIs are January 19, 21, and 24, in that order. Given that both teams are vying for vital ICC Women’s Championship points in order to earn direct qualification for the 50-over World Cup in India later this year, this series is very significant. To guarantee their spot, Bangladesh must win the series. The teams will play a three-match T20I series on January 27, 29, and 31 following the ODI series.
Ritu Moni and Jahanara Alam were unable to hold onto their spots in the ODI squad, but Lata Mondal and Fariha Islam have returned. In contrast to Ritu Moni, Jahanara Alam, and Jannatul Ferdous, Marufa Akter, Sultana Khatun, Lata Mondal, and Farzana Hoque have rejoined the T20I team.
“Really excited, going to West Indies for the first time. The men’s team just returned after a successful tour there. Hopefully, we’ll do something good as well,” Rabeya Khan said during her expectations regarding the tour. “We really need the four points to qualify for the Women’s World Cup. That’s our goal – to win the ODIs there,” she concluded.