Nahida Akter named Bangladesh women's T20I captain

Nahida Akter has been named the Bangladesh T20I captain. The 25-year-old has been given an initial one-year term, with the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 next month set to be her first assignment. She replaces Nigar Sultana who led the team in 82 matches.

The left-arm spinner is Bangladesh's leading wicket-taker in T20Is. She has taken 132 wickets at an average of 17.38, with best figures of 5 for 8. She has also taken 81 wickets in ODIs. She made her international debut in September, 2015 and has been one of the few consistent performers in the women's team.

Nahida has often bowled well with the new ball for Bangladesh. Her most memorable performance in T20Is came when she took a five-wicket haul against Pakistan in 2023, followed by her crucial three wickets during Bangladesh's T20 World Cup win over the same opponents this year.

Nahida has also made significant contributions to Bangladesh's ODI wins against Pakistan, West Indies and South Africa over the last three years.

Bangladesh won 32 matches under Sultana, but she stepped down recently after the team struggled in the Asia Cup and Asian Games. Sultana began her tenure on a strong note, becoming a breath of fresh air with her pragmatic leadership style and her handling of the media.

She, however, came under scrutiny during last year's World Cup in India, for repeatedly scolding her team-mates from behind the stumps, with her comments often picked up by the on-field stump microphones. She was noticeably more more restrained in her subsequent tournaments, but Bangladesh's form slipped under captaincy this year.

Meanwhile, middle-order batter Sobhana Mostary has been named Nahida's deputy. Mostary recently struck a ODI century against Australia, a historic feat for Bangladesh.