Nigar Sultana makes big call on Bangladesh T20I captaincy, set to step down after Asian Games

Bangladesh's women's T20I captain Nigar Sultana plans to step down from her captaincy role after the 2026 Asian Games, according to Cricbuzz. Nigar communicated her decision to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) via a letter sent from Japan on Tuesday, September 15. Despite ending her T20I captaincy, Nigar intends to continue captaining Bangladesh in ODIs and shift her focus in T20Is toward batting and wicketkeeping responsibilities.

Nigar assumed the T20I captaincy in 2022 and has led the team through significant moments in the format. Following the Asian Games, she aims to reduce her leadership responsibilities in T20Is while concentrating more on her individual contributions with the bat and behind the stumps. A significant highlight of Nigar's T20I captaincy was leading Bangladesh to their first-ever victory at the 2024 T20 World Cup, after a 10-year drought.

She also played a crucial role as an individual, scoring 104 runs across four innings and contributing seven dismissals as wicketkeeper.

However, Nigar's tenure as T20I captain has also faced challenging periods. Despite leading Bangladesh to the 2026 T20 World Cup qualifiers, their subsequent results were less convincing, with two defeats in a home series against Sri Lanka and mixed results in the Scotland-Netherlands tri-series. Bangladesh's performance in the 2026 T20 World Cup was also under scrutiny, as they managed only two wins from five matches.

Nigar's decision to step down as T20I captain allows Bangladesh to begin planning for a new leader while retaining her experience and leadership in ODIs.