Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana has announced her decision to relinquish T20I captaincy following the conclusion of the Asian Games in Japan. The decision, which she had previously communicated to the cricket board, aims to allow her to dedicate more time and energy to her role as a batter. Dismissing speculation that her departure was prompted by a lack of institutional support, Nigar emphasized that she believes she has much more to contribute to the national team in a purely playing capacity.
The announcement followed a demoralizing 114-run defeat for Bangladesh against India in the semifinal at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, on Sunday. During the match, India posted a commanding 195/4, fueled by Shafali Verma’s unbeaten 100 off just 49 deliveries. In response, the Bangladesh batting lineup faltered significantly, managing only 81 runs before being bowled out in just 15.4 overs.
Reflecting on the collapse, Nigar noted that chasing such high totals can often lead to pressure-induced failures. She admitted the team lacked collective responsibility in their batting performance, observing that even a modest contribution from a top-order batter could have improved their total, especially given the conditions where Sri Lanka managed 107 runs earlier the same day. She expressed disappointment, stating, “Overall, I’ll say the entire team played very poor cricket.”
Nigar also highlighted significant challenges regarding tournament preparation. Persistent rain in Japan restricted the team to only two days of training, and the cancellation of a scheduled game against China denied the squad vital match practice. She pointed out the lack of adequate training facilities, noting that the missed opportunity to play China hindered the team’s ability to settle into a rhythm before the crucial knockout stage.
Looking ahead, Nigar is set to lead the team one final time in the T20 format during the upcoming bronze medal match against Pakistan. Despite the heavy loss to India, she maintains confidence in her side’s capability to secure a podium finish, noting that Bangladesh holds a historically strong record against their next opponents. She remains focused on finishing her tenure on a positive note, carrying a sense of optimism into the final fixture. The report also notes that bangladesh women’s batting struggles continued as they bowed out of the Asian Games 2026 gold medal race after a 114-run thrashing at the hands of India in Sunday’s semi-final at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin. The report also notes that asked to bowl first, Bangladesh allowed India to pile up a huge score of 195/4, with Shafali Verma bringing up her maiden T20 international ton, hammering an unbeaten 100 off just 49 balls. The report also notes that “No, it’s totally (false that I left because I was hurt).
