The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has recently revealed the senior women’s team for their inaugural bilateral series against the West Indies, with the noticeable absence of seasoned pace bowler Jahanara Alam from the 15-player roster. Reports indicate that Alam has chosen to take an indefinite break to focus on her mental health.
Alam has reportedly reached out to Habibul Bashar, the head of the BCB Women’s Wing, to request a two-month hiatus from cricket, thus withdrawing from consideration for the upcoming tour of the Caribbean. She has also indicated her willingness to be removed from the national contract list due to her unavailability.
Bashar, as quoted by Cricbuzz, mentioned, “She had given us a letter stating that she was not mentally ready to play and took a break from cricket for two months. She even said that if necessary, she should not be kept in the contract… There is no specific time frame for which she is out. Whenever she feels well, she will let us know.”
Recently, Alam has experienced a tough period, frequently moving in and out of the national squad. In 2023, she managed to play only three T20Is—two at the World Cup in South Africa and one during an away series in Sri Lanka—yet did not take any wickets. Nevertheless, her success in domestic cricket led to her inclusion in the 2024 Asia Cup in July, where she participated in just two matches before her next outing in December.
Throughout the 2024 domestic season, Jahanara Alam showcased an outstanding performance in List A cricket, bagging an impressive 25 wickets in only 9 innings, with an exceptional average of 8.88 and an economy rate of 3.12. Despite her domestic achievements and re-entry to the international scene, Alam encountered limited opportunities, pointing to a potential issue of mismanagement.
After returning for the 2024 T20 Asia Cup, Alam was retained in the squad for the T20 World Cup but did not participate in any matches. In the home series against Ireland in December, she played in the T20Is but was excluded from the ODIs, despite being the top wicket-taker in that format during the 2024 domestic season. Her last ODI appearance was in May 2023.
At 31 years of age, Alam has played 52 ODIs, claiming 48 wickets with a personal best of 3/18 and maintaining an economy rate of 4.26, and participated in 83 T20Is with 60 wickets, including her best of 5/28, while maintaining an economy rate of 5.69. She has also proven to be a capable batsman. Once considered a symbol of Bangladesh cricket, fans hope Alam can reclaim her position.
Image Source: Jahanara Alam @ Instagram
