Nahida Akter has been officially confirmed as the new captain of the Bangladesh women’s T20 cricket team, ending weeks of speculation regarding the squad’s leadership. Alongside her, Sobhana Mostary has been appointed to serve as the team’s vice-captain. Although an official board announcement is pending, Rafiqul Islam Babu, the chairman of the BCB women’s wing, confirmed the leadership changes.
The transition follows Nigar Sultana Joty’s decision to step down from the T20 captaincy after the conclusion of the most recent Asia Cup. Joty will, however, continue to lead the national side in the ODI format. Nahida, who had been serving as the vice-captain since Joty assumed the T20 leadership role in 2022, was considered the natural successor for the position.
Explaining the selection process, Rafiqul Islam Babu stated that the decision was finalized after extensive consultations with the selection panel and other stakeholders. Reflecting on Nahida’s tenure as deputy, Babu noted that she has spent a significant amount of time in the leadership group, and the board believes the timing is ideal for her to transition into the primary captaincy role.
The newly appointed leadership duo will make their debut during the upcoming Women’s Emerging Nations T20 tournament, scheduled to take place from November 10 to 26. The competition will feature 10 teams divided into two groups: Group A includes Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland, PNG, and the UAE, while Group B consists of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand, the Netherlands, and Zimbabwe. While the event was originally slated to be hosted by Thailand, the International Cricket Council has decided to relocate the venue due to severe flooding in the country, with the new host city yet to be announced.
