Bangladesh women's team players began a week-long fitness camp on Thursday, eyeing the upcoming Women's Bangladesh Cricket League (WBCL), which starts on December 15 in Rajshahi. 

All-rounder Shorna Akter turned heads on the first day, emerging as the fastest runner, while her energy during plyometric drills also drew attention.

The Tigresses were originally scheduled to tour India for two white-ball series during this period, but the tour was postponed by the BCCI. With the ICC Women's T20 World Cup qualifiers set to be held next January-February, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) decided to arrange the four-team WBCL -- this time in T20 format after being held in three-day format last year -- in order to give players necessary match practice ahead of the tournament.

With the global qualifier drawing near, Shorna and her teammates are banking on the WBCL for valuable preparation. "Ahead of the World Cup, our fitness camp started today. It will run for seven days. Then we report on the 12th, and the BCL starts on the 15th," Shorna said.

It was learned that Marufa Akter, Nahida Akter and skipper Nigar Sultana Joty, who sat out the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL), are expected to take part in the WBCL, which ends on December 25.