Nahida Akter named Bangladesh T20I captain as Nigar Sultana steps down

Nahida Akter has been appointed as Bangladesh's new T20I captain, taking over from Nigar Sultana, who stepped down from the role following the Asian Games. The Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed the change on October 18, 2026, with Sobhana Mostary named as vice-captain of the T20I side.

Sultana chose to relinquish the T20I captaincy to concentrate on her own batting and has also expressed disappointment with her treatment by the board in recent times. She continues to lead Bangladesh in the ODI format and remains a key member of the squad in that capacity, meaning the two formats will now operate under separate captains.

Nahida had served as Sultana's deputy in the T20I setup since Sultana assumed the captaincy in 2022, giving her four years of experience alongside the leadership group before stepping into the top role. That extended stint as vice-captain placed Nahida in a strong position to understand the demands of leading the side at the highest level of the shortest format.

What did the BCB say about the captaincy change?

BCB women's wing chairman Rafiqul Islam confirmed that the selection panel convened and collectively arrived at the decision to hand the T20I captaincy to Nahida. Islam stated that Nahida's extended stint as vice-captain had positioned her as the right candidate to take charge at this stage, and the board communicated the decision to the media on October 18, 2026.

"Nahida has been the vice-captain for a pretty long time and now we feel the time is right to give her the responsibility of our T20I squad. We sat with members of the selection panel along with others and decided to hand over the T20I captaincy to Nahida. Sobhana Mostary will be her deputy," Islam told Cricbuzz.

The panel's deliberations brought together members from across the board's cricketing structure before the final call was announced. The appointment marks a clear shift in Bangladesh women's T20I leadership, with the board opting for continuity by elevating a long-serving deputy rather than looking outside the existing setup.

What is Bangladesh's next confirmed assignment under Nahida?

Bangladesh are set to feature in the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy in Thailand, with their opening fixture scheduled against Pakistan on November 12, 2026. The tournament will serve as one of the first competitive tests for Nahida in her new capacity as T20I captain, offering her an immediate opportunity to set the tone for her tenure.

The assignment also gives Nahida and Sobhana an early opportunity to establish their working partnership at the leadership level in a multi-nation setting. With Sultana remaining in charge of the ODI side, Bangladesh women's cricket will now be guided by two different captains across the two white-ball formats for the foreseeable future, a structural arrangement the BCB has formally endorsed through this appointment.