Nahida Akter named Bangladesh Women’s T20I captain, Sobhana Mostary appointed deputy

Dhaka, 18 October 2026: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has appointed experienced left-arm spinner Nahida Akter as the new captain of the national women’s T20I team for a one-year term, replacing Nigar Sultana Joty, who recently stepped down from the role.

The board confirmed the leadership change on Sunday, with 24-year-old batter Sobhana Mostary also named vice-captain as Bangladesh prepare for their upcoming international assignments.

Nahida, 26, takes charge after establishing herself as one of Bangladesh’s most consistent performers in women’s T20 internationals, bringing more than a decade of international experience to the leadership role.

Since making her international debut in 2015, the left-arm spinner has represented Bangladesh in 113 T20Is, claiming 132 wickets to become the country’s leading wicket-taker in the format.

Her impressive tally also places her fifth among bowlers representing ICC Full Member nations in women’s T20 internationals, highlighting her importance to Bangladesh’s bowling attack.

The appointment marks a significant transition for Bangladesh’s women’s team following Nigar Sultana’s decision to relinquish the T20I captaincy.

Nahida previously served as vice-captain under Nigar, including during Bangladesh’s Women’s T20 World Cup qualifying campaign earlier this year.

Her promotion provides continuity within the leadership group, although the challenge now extends beyond her individual bowling performances to managing the team’s tactics and developing consistency across the squad.

Meanwhile, Mostary’s appointment as vice-captain signals an opportunity for the younger generation to take greater responsibility within Bangladesh's T20 setup.

The right-handed batter has played 72 T20 internationals since making her debut in 2019 and has established herself as a regular member of the national side.

Mostary recently crossed the 1,000-run milestone in women’s T20Is, becoming only the third Bangladeshi batter to achieve the feat after Nigar Sultana and Fargana Hoque.

The new leadership combination brings together Nahida’s extensive bowling experience and Mostary’s growing influence with the bat.

Bangladesh’s immediate focus will turn towards the ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2026, scheduled from November 12 to 25.

The tournament will provide an early opportunity to assess the side’s performance under the new leadership, particularly how Nahida balances her responsibilities as captain with her role as Bangladesh’s leading T20I wicket-taker.