Bangladesh have suffered a big blow ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup qualifiers as their right-arm pacer Jahanara Alam has been ruled out of the event due to a hand injury. The experienced bowler needed two stitches in her right hand for the injury she sustained Thursday during a practice session in Abu Dhabi. She was replaced by Fariha Islam Trisna. Read: It's time for young guns to fire on all cylinders: Nurul Hasan Meanwhile, batter Fargana Hoque Pinky tested positive for Covid-19 and is being treated as per the medical protocol of the event. Shohaly Akhther was named as her replacement. The replacement players will join the team in Abu Dhabi Saturday. Bangladesh's campaign in the tournament will start with the match against Ireland on 18 September.  

Two Bangladeshi women cricketers, who suffered COVID Omicron variant, are well now and tested negative, the chief physician of BCB confirmed on Monday. Bangladesh women cricket team has recently toured Zimbabwe to take part in the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifiers. The event was called off midway due to the surge of the Omicron variant of COVID. Bangladesh women team has successfully qualified for the next 50-over World Cup— their first in the history. Also read: Omicron also enters Bangladesh; first 2 cases detected After coming back to Dhaka, they were isolated in a hotel in the capital. On December 6, the health department confirmed that two women cricketers are COVID positive. Five days later, on December 11, the health department said both are affected by Omicron. Returning negative in the latest COVID test, both the cricketers are free to get out of the isolation centre of a Dhaka hospital and go home. Another member of the women team is positive with the Delta variant of COVID and yet to test negative. According to BCB sources, the person is doing well and will undergo a COVID test this week. A negative result will allow the person to leave the isolation centre as well. Also read: All Bangladeshi players test negative for Covid-19 in New Zealand

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today (Tuesday) postponed two more  qualifying events including ICC Women's World Cup due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19 ) pandemic.