The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially named Nahida Akter as the new captain of the national women’s T20I team. This leadership change follows the decision by Nigar Sultana to step down from the role after the Asian Games to dedicate more attention to her personal batting form. BCB women’s wing chairman Rafiqul Islam confirmed the move on Sunday, noting that the board reached the decision after consulting with the selection panel. “We sat with members of the selection panel along with others and decided to hand over the T20I captaincy to Nahida.
Reflecting on the appointment, Rafiqul explained that the transition marks a natural progression for the squad. “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,” he stated. Having served as Sultana’s deputy since 2022, Akter now takes the helm, while Sobhana Mostary has been appointed as the new vice-captain.
Despite relinquishing the T20I leadership, Nigar Sultana will maintain her position as the captain of the ODI side, continuing the role she performed during the recent tour of Australia. Reports indicate that her move to step down came as a surprise to the board, amidst underlying frustrations regarding her recent treatment by officials.
The team is now turning its attention toward the upcoming ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy in Thailand. Bangladesh is set to begin its campaign in the tournament with an opening match against Pakistan on November 12.
