Nigar Sultana has confirmed her decision to step down as captain of the Bangladesh women’s T20I team. The skipper had previously informed the board of her intention to move on from the leadership role following the conclusion of the Asian Games 2026. Addressing reports that suggested she felt unsupported by the board, Nigar dismissed the claims as false, emphasizing that her choice is driven by a desire to contribute more effectively as a player. She stated that as both a batter and an athlete, she has much more to offer her country and team, and she wishes to devote her full focus to refining her performance at the crease.
The announcement followed a difficult semi-final defeat at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, where Bangladesh suffered a 114-run loss against India. Forced to bowl first, the side struggled to contain the Indian attack, allowing them to post 195/4. The innings was anchored by Shafali Verma, who scored an unbeaten 100 off just 49 deliveries. In response, the Bangladesh batting lineup collapsed, managing only 81 runs in 15.4 overs. Nigar noted that such a collapse is a natural consequence of chasing a significant total, though she acknowledged the team’s failure to take responsibility for their performance. She highlighted that even a modest contribution from a top-order batter could have improved their output, noting that Sri Lanka managed 107 runs on the same wicket against Pakistan earlier that day.
Preparation difficulties also impacted the team’s campaign, with Nigar citing a lack of training facilities and disrupted schedules due to rain. The team was limited to two days of practice, and an opportunity to gain match fitness was lost when their fixture against China was washed out and a planned warm-up match failed to materialize. Reflecting on the heavy loss, Nigar admitted that the overall performance of the squad was poor.
Despite the disappointment, the captain remains focused on ending her tenure on a positive note in the upcoming bronze medal match against Pakistan. Drawing confidence from their historical record against the side, she believes a podium finish is achievable. This final T20I appearance under her leadership will serve as the conclusion to her current captaincy role. The report also notes that though she begs to differ, there were reports that Nigar wanted to step down from captaincy after not getting enough support from the board in tough times. The report also notes that “No, it’s totally (false that I left because I was hurt). The report also notes that asked to bowl first, Bangladesh allowed India to pile up a huge score of 195/4, with Shafali Verma bringing up her maiden T20 international ton, hammering an unbeaten 100 off just 49 balls. The report also notes that but we missed that opportunity too.
