Nigar Sultana Steps Down as T20I Captain, BCB Chief Surprised
Nigar Sultana informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board of her formal resignation as the T20I captain of Bangladesh in a letter from Japan on Tuesday, September 15. Just two days prior to Bangladesh’s opening match against China on September 17, the announcement was made during the team’s Asian Games campaign.
Nigar Sultana explained that she relinquished the T20I captaincy in order to focus on her wicketkeeping and batting while continuing to lead the ODI team.
On Wednesday, September 16, Rafiqul Islam Babu, the chairman of the BCB women’s division, addressed the development. The board has received Sultana’s email and intends to address the issue and determine the appropriate course of action upon the team’s return from the Asian Games.
Nigar Sultana recent performance and captaincy record
During her tenure, Nigar Sultana led Bangladesh in 80 T20I matches after assuming the T20I captaincy in 2022. As captain, she achieved a win percentage of 40.50%, with 32 victories and 47 defeats, and one match concluding without a resolution.
In recent months, the team’s performance under her stewardship has been inconsistent, with varying fortunes across various formats and competitions.
One noteworthy accomplishment during Nigar Sultana tenure as captain was the 2024 T20 World Cup, in which Bangladesh defeated Scotland to achieve its first World Cup victory in a decade.
Nigar Sultana contributed 104 runs across four innings and executed seven dismissals behind the wickets during that tournament. Earlier in 2026, Bangladesh emerged as undisputed champions in the World Cup qualifiers; however, their subsequent performances were inconsistent.
The team experienced a 3-0 home series loss to Sri Lanka in April-May 2026, which was followed by a mixed performance in the Scotland-Netherlands tri-series and two victories from five matches at the World Cup.
These findings had resulted in a critical evaluation of Sultana’s leadership in the most concise manner. The BCB has not publicly disclosed a timeline for the appointment of a new T20I captain, and no successor has been named as of September 15, 2026.
