Nigar Sultana the Bangladesh captain [Source: AFP]Bangladesh women’s cricket is set to enter a new phase after Nigar Sultana decided to step down as T20I captain following the Asian Games 2026. Nigar had already informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board of her decision five days ago, with plans to focus more on her playing role while continuing as ODI captain. Her latest T20I assignment as captain ended with Bangladesh’s heavy defeat against India in the semi-final. After the loss, Nigar finally opened up about why she chose to leave the shortest-format leadership role.Nigar Sultana shuns 'getting hurt' rumours, wants to focus on battingNigar strongly rejected suggestions that she stepped down because she felt let down or hurt by the Bangladesh board during difficult periods.For instance, she skipped the customary handshake with Harmanpreet Kaur during the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup semi-final, prompting the BCB to distance itself from the gesture and call it her personal decision. The board then said her captaincy would be reviewed after the Asian Games, while separate misconduct and leadership complaints also emerged. Shunning those rumours, Sultana shared her side of the decision to exit from the prestigious role.“No, it's totally (false that I left because I was hurt). As a batter, as a player, I have a lot more to give to my country and my team. So I want to focus on that, and that's why I made this decision,” Nigar told reporters after Bangladesh’s 114-run defeat against India.Also Read- Nigar Sultana Shocks BCB With T20I Captaincy Exit DecisionNigar Sultana further admitted the batting unit failed to take responsibility while chasing such a huge target. “When a team collapses for so few runs, we as batters definitely took no responsibility. If even one top-order batter had stayed till the end, we could have added more runs,” she added.With batting responsibilities piling up, Sultana thought it best to put herself on the frontline to better sharp her skills and give her best in the shortest format while letting go of the captaincy duty.Are Sultana's T20 numbers better as a non-captain?Nigar’s T20I numbers reveal an interesting contrast between her two career phases. As captain between 2022 and 2026, she played 81 matches and scored 1,860 runs in 78 innings at an average of 29.52 and a strike rate of 97.48. She registered 13 fifties during that period.Before becoming captain, Nigar played 52 T20Is between 2015 and 2020, scoring 858 runs in 49 innings at an average of 23.18 and a strike rate of 85.54. Her only T20I century, an unbeaten 113, also came during this period.The figures therefore show a higher average and strike rate during her captaincy years, a complete contrast to what she thinks have happened. Notably though, her pre-captaincy phase included her highest individual score and only T20I hundred. Who will replace Nigar Sultana as new Bangladesh T20I captain?The BCB is already considering Nigar’s successor. Left-arm spinner Nahida Akhter and middle-order batter Sobhana Mostary have emerged as the leading candidates.Nahida brings substantial T20I experience, having played 111 matches and taken 129 wickets at an economy rate of 5.86. Mostary offers a batting-led option. She has played 70 T20Is and scored 1,154 runs at an average of 19.89 and a strike rate of 95.45. A BCB official told Cricbuzz that Nahida and Mostary are the “strong contenders”. Rabeya Khatun and Shorna Akhter are also possible alternatives, although the board may consider their appointments premature at this stage.Before handing over the T20I captaincy, Nigar Sultana will lead Bangladesh once more against Pakistan in the Asian Games bronze-medal match.Also Read- Ajit Agarkar's Biggest Controversies As BCCI Chief Selector
