BCB increases women’s central contracts from 15 to 17

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has expanded the number of women cricketers on central contracts from 15 to 17 and approved several initiatives aimed at strengthening the women’s game following its latest board meeting.

The decisions come after Bangladesh’s campaign at the Women’s T20 World Cup.

The national team is currently attending a fitness camp in Sylhet and is scheduled to begin a skills camp in Mirpur from 10 August.

Three players — Nahida Akter, Sharmin Akhter Supta and captain Nigar Sultana Joty — have been placed in the top A category of the new central contract.

Seven cricketers have been included in Category B, while two are in Category C and five in Category D.

In addition, the BCB also increased the first-class contracted player’s number from 36 to 37, taking the total number of contracted women cricketers to 54 for the upcoming season, according to a BCB source.

The board also decided to appoint eight female coaches across the country’s eight divisions as part of its grassroots development programme. Former women cricketers with Level 1 coaching qualifications will be given preference for the positions.