Bangladesh Hand T20I Captaincy to Nahida Akter After Sultana Era

Bangladesh have turned to their most accomplished bowler to lead the T20I side, naming left-arm spinner Nahida Akter as captain for a one-year term. The 25-year-old replaces Nigar Sultana, who led the team in 82 matches before stepping down following a difficult run in the Asia Cup and Asian Games.

Nahida’s first assignment in charge will be the ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 next month.

The appointment recognises a decade of consistency since her international debut in September 2015. Nahida is Bangladesh’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is, with 132 wickets at an average of 17.38 and best figures of 5 for 8. Her ODI record stands at 81 wickets.

Her most telling contributions have come on the biggest stages. A five-wicket haul against Pakistan in 2023 was followed by a crucial three-wicket spell in Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup victory over the same opponents this year. She has also played a significant role in ODI wins against Pakistan, West Indies and South Africa over the past three years.

Mostary Appointed Deputy

Middle-order batter Sobhana Mostary will serve as vice-captain. Mostary recently struck an ODI century against Australia, a historic feat for Bangladesh women’s cricket.

The leadership change follows a period of underperformance under Sultana, whose tenure yielded 32 wins but ended with the team struggling in two major tournaments. Nahida inherits a side in transition, with the Emerging Nations Trophy offering an immediate opportunity to establish a new direction.

For a bowler who has carried Bangladesh’s attack for years, the captaincy represents a natural progression. The challenge now is to translate individual excellence into collective results as the team enters a new chapter.

                                               

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