BCB Shortlists 2 Names As Bangladesh's New Captain After Asian Games 2026

BCB shortlists 2 names for Bangladesh captaincy [Source: AFP]Bangladesh are already looking towards their next T20I captain after Nigar Sultana decided to exit the role following the Asian Games 2026. Nigar, who has led the side in the shortest format since 2022, wants to concentrate more on her batting and wicketkeeping while continuing as the ODI captain. With her decision now communicated to the Bangladesh Cricket Board, two names have emerged as the leading candidates to take charge of the T20I side.Nahida Akhter on BCB's shortlist to replace Nigar SultanaLeft-arm spinner Nahida Akhter has emerged as one of the strongest candidates to succeed Nigar. The 25-year-old has been a key part of Bangladesh's bowling attack for years and brings significant experience in the shortest format.Nahida has played 111 WT20Is and taken 129 wickets, making her Bangladesh's leading wicket-taker in the format. Her economy rate of 5.86 underlines her ability to control the scoring rate, while her bowling average of 17.26 further highlights her consistency.Nahida Akhter's international journey began remarkably early, with her T20I debut coming against Pakistan in Karachi in September 2015 when she was only 15. In June 2026, she became the first Bangladeshi woman to complete 200 international wickets across formats, reaching the landmark against Pakistan at the Women's T20 World Cup.Also Read- When Will IPL 2027 Auction Take Place? Report RevealsHer recent performances have strengthened her case further. She produced back-to-back Player of the Match performances at the 2026 Women's Asia Cup, including a 3/15 spell against Indonesia and 2/18 against the UAE.Sobhana Mostary another option for BCBSobhana Mostary is the other leading name being discussed by the BCB. Unlike Nahida, Mostary's primary contribution comes with the bat, with the right-hander operating in Bangladesh's middle order."I think there are not too many cricketers around to replace Sultana but, as she decided to step down, we have to find someone. Nahida and Sobhana are strong contenders, taking into consideration their position in the shorter format," an official working closely with the development told Cricbuzz.Mostary has played 70 WT20Is, scoring 1,154 runs in 64 innings at an average of 19.89 and a strike rate of 95.45. Her highest score is 59, which came against Thailand in January 2026.The BCB could also consider Rabeya Khatun, who has previously captained the A team, and all-rounder Shorna Akhter. However, handing either player the T20I captaincy at this stage could be considered premature within the board.How have Bangladesh Women performed in T20Is under Nigar Sultana?Nigar took over Bangladesh Women's T20I captaincy in 2022 and has led the side in 80 matches, winning 32 and losing 47, with one match ending without a result.One of the defining moments of Nigar's tenure came at the 2024 T20 World Cup, when Bangladesh defeated Scotland for their first World Cup victory in a decade. 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They advanced due to their higher seeding.They are now scheduled to face India Women in the semi-final on September 20. Thus, the meeting with the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side could be Nigar's final T20I assignment as Bangladesh captain if the team fails to advance to the Final.Also Read- BCB Abandons Nigar Sultana Over Harmanpreet Handshake Snub