Nahida Akter named Bangladesh women's T20I captain, Sobhana Mostary vice-captain
Synopsis
Bangladesh women's cricket has a new T20I captain — left-arm spinner Nahida Akter, who spent four years as deputy before finally getting the top job. With Nigar Sultana reportedly unhappy with her BCB treatment and stepping down after the Asian Games, Bangladesh now has split captains across white-ball formats for the first time in recent memory.
Key Takeaways
Nahida Akter has been appointed Bangladesh women's T20I captain as of 18 October 2026 , replacing Nigar Sultana .
Sobhana Mostary has been named vice-captain of the women's T20I side.
Nigar Sultana , 29 , stepped down from T20I captaincy after the Asian Games to focus on her own game; she reportedly did so amid discontent with the BCB .
Nigar will continue to captain Bangladesh in the 50-over format .
Nahida's first assignment is the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy in Thailand , opening against Pakistan on 12 November .
Bangladesh will now have separate captains in T20I and ODI formats going forward.
Left-arm spinner Nahida Akter has been appointed Bangladesh women's T20I captain, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced on 18 October 2026, succeeding wicketkeeper-batter Nigar Sultana, who stepped down from the role following the Asian Games. Sobhana Mostary has been named vice-captain of the T20I side.
BCB's Decision and Leadership Change
BCB women's wing chairman Rafiqul Islam confirmed the appointment, stating: '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.' The board cited Nahida's long stint as deputy as the key reason behind the elevation.
'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,' Rafiqul said. Nahida had served as Nigar's deputy ever since the wicketkeeper-batter was handed the T20I captaincy in 2022 — a period spanning roughly four years.
Why Nigar Sultana Stepped Down
According to reports, Nigar, 29, chose to relinquish the T20I captaincy after the Asian Games in Japan to focus more on her personal form — a move that reportedly caught the BCB off guard. Reports also indicate that Nigar was unhappy with how she had been treated by the board in recent times, though the specifics were not officially detailed.
Notably, Nigar will continue to lead Bangladesh in the 50-over format, having most recently captained the side during a three-match ODI tour of Australia. This development means Bangladesh will operate with separate captains across their two white-ball formats for the foreseeable future.
Nahida's First Assignment as Captain
Nahida's first test as T20I skipper will come at the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy in Thailand, where Bangladesh open their campaign against Pakistan on 12 November. The multi-team tournament gives both Nahida and Sobhana an early opportunity to forge their leadership partnership under competitive conditions.
What This Means for Bangladesh Women's Cricket
The leadership reshuffle marks a significant transition for the Bangladesh women's side. Nahida's elevation from long-serving understudy to captain reflects the BCB's confidence in her experience and influence within the squad. Having operated in the shadows of the captaincy for four years, she enters the role with an unusually deep understanding of the team's dynamics. With a split-captaincy model now in place, how effectively the two leaders complement each other across formats will be closely watched in the months ahead.
Point of View
And fragmenting captaincy across formats adds coordination complexity. How the BCB manages the Nigar situation while keeping her motivated as ODI captain, without letting the T20I and ODI dressing rooms drift, will matter far more than the headline change.
NationPress
18 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bangladesh's new women's T20I captain?
Left-arm spinner Nahida Akter has been named Bangladesh women's T20I captain, as announced by the BCB on 18 October 2026. She succeeds wicketkeeper-batter Nigar Sultana, who stepped down after the Asian Games.
Why did Nigar Sultana step down as T20I captain?
Nigar Sultana stepped down from the T20I captaincy after the Asian Games to concentrate more on her own game, a move that reportedly caught the BCB off guard. Reports also suggest she was unhappy with the way she had been treated by the board in recent times.
Who is the vice-captain of Bangladesh women's T20I team?
Sobhana Mostary has been appointed vice-captain of the Bangladesh women's T20I side alongside new captain Nahida Akter. The pair will lead the team at the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy in Thailand.
When is Nahida Akter's first assignment as T20I captain?
Nahida Akter's first assignment as T20I captain is the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy in Thailand, where Bangladesh face Pakistan on 12 November. The tournament will provide an early opportunity for Nahida and Sobhana Mostary to establish their leadership partnership.
Will Bangladesh have different captains for T20I and ODI formats?
Yes, Bangladesh will now operate with separate captains across their two white-ball formats. Nahida Akter leads the T20I side while Nigar Sultana continues to captain the team in the 50-over format.
