Nigar Sultana to step down as Bangladesh women's T20I captain

Nigar Sultana has announced she will step down as the captain of the Bangladesh women’s T20I team following the 2026 Asian Games. Sultana stated her decision is driven by a desire to focus more on her batting and wicketkeeping duties. She dismissed reports suggesting her departure was due to a lack of support from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), asserting, “As a batter, as a player, I have a lot more to give to my country and my team.”

Sultana will continue to lead the women’s One Day International (WODI) side. The BCB is currently evaluating potential successors, with left-arm spinner Nahida Akhter and all-rounder Sobhana Mostary emerging as candidates. Sultana has led the team since 2022, notably guiding them to their first World Cup win in a decade during the 2024 T20 World Cup.

The announcement follows a heavy 114-run defeat against India in the Asian Games semi-final, where India posted 195/4, including a century by Shafali Verma, before Bangladesh was bowled out for 81. Sultana noted that the loss exposed a lack of batting depth and responsibility within the squad.