Two talented players, fresh from successful performances with Tasmania in Australian state cricket, have joined the West Indies women’s squad. They step in for Rashada Willams and Shamilia Connell, under the leadership of all-rounder Hayley Matthews.

The upcoming series against Bangladesh comes at a perfect time for the West Indies team as they prepare for future challenges. According to head coach Shane Deitz, Bangladesh has shown remarkable growth in their game, making this an exciting opportunity to test the depth of the West Indies squad. “We’ve been working on key areas during training and tours, and this series will show us how far we’ve come. The conditions at Warner Park will be tough for both teams, creating an exciting contest. I’m eager to see how our younger players handle this test,” he stated.

This series is historic—it marks the first-ever bilateral women’s cricket series between West Indies and Bangladesh. It is also Bangladesh’s debut tour of the Caribbean for a series. The two sides last faced each other on October 10, 2024, during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, where West Indies claimed victory by eight wickets. Their most recent ODI meeting was on March 18, 2022, in New Zealand, with West Indies narrowly winning by four runs. To date, the West Indies remain unbeaten against Bangladesh in their five international encounters—four T20Is and one ODI.

Currently sitting ninth in the ICC Women’s Championship standings, the West Indies face an uphill climb. They need to finish in the top six for automatic qualification, but that’s now out of reach as New Zealand holds sixth place with 21 points. Even with a clean sweep of the three ODIs against Bangladesh, West Indies can only reach 20 points. This means they’ll likely head to the qualifiers later this year, joining Ireland, Pakistan, and possibly either Bangladesh or New Zealand.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, emphasized the significance of this tour. “We’re thrilled to host Bangladesh for this exciting white-ball series. It’s a great opportunity to strengthen our cricketing ties, give our team valuable match experience, and earn crucial points in the ICC Women’s Championship. We’ve watched Bangladesh improve over the years, and these matches will be vital for both teams. It’s also a fantastic chance to showcase international women’s cricket to our home fans across the region. These bilateral series are critical for growing women’s cricket globally and within our region,” Bascombe said.

The West Indies squad for this series includes Hayley Matthews (captain), Shemaine Campbelle (vice-captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Nerissa Crafton, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Chinelle Henry, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Ashmini Munisar, and Karishma Ramharack.

This series promises thrilling cricket action as both teams aim to prove themselves on the international stage while inspiring fans across the globe.