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

Bangladesh women’s captain Nigar Sultana is set to relinquish the T20I captaincy following the 2026 Asian Games, bringing an end to her leadership of the side in the shortest format.According to Cricbuzz, Nigar has already communicated her decision to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), with the wicketkeeper-batter formally informing the board through a letter sent from Japan on Tuesday, September 15. However, she is not walking away from leadership altogether. Nigar intends to continue captaining Bangladesh in ODIs while shifting her focus in T20Is towards her batting and wicketkeeping responsibilities.Nigar wants to focus on batting and wicketkeepingNigar took over as Bangladesh’s T20I captain in 2022 and has led the side through several significant moments in the format. After the Asian Games, she wants to reduce her leadership responsibilities in T20Is to concentrate more on her individual contributions with the bat and behind the stumps.A decade-defining World Cup victoryOne of the standout moments of Nigar’s T20I captaincy came during the 2024 T20 World Cup, when Bangladesh defeated Scotland to secure their first victory at the tournament in 10 years. Nigar also played a key role as an individual during that campaign. She scored 104 runs across four innings and contributed seven dismissals as wicketkeeper, underlining her importance to the side in both departments.While Nigar enjoyed some notable successes as captain, her tenure has also faced difficult periods. Bangladesh went unbeaten to win the 2026 T20 World Cup qualifiers, strengthening their hopes ahead of the main tournament. However, their subsequent results were less convincing.They suffered a 2-1 home series defeat to Sri Lanka, while their campaign in the Scotland-Netherlands tri-series produced mixed results. At the 2026 T20 World Cup, Bangladesh managed only two victories from five matches, with those results putting Nigar’s leadership under greater scrutiny.Asian Games to mark end of T20I captaincyNigar will now lead Bangladesh in the T20 format for one final assignment at the Asian Games before stepping aside. Her decision allows Bangladesh to begin planning for a new T20I captain while retaining Nigar’s experience and leadership in ODIs.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.