Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter Nigar Sultana Joty is set to step down as the team’s T20I captain after the 4th edition of the Asian Games 2026 in Japan. As per the Cricbuzz report, the 29-year-old has formally informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board of her decision in a letter sent from Japan on Tuesday, September 15, as she looks to focus more on her batting and wicketkeeping while continuing to lead the side in ODIs.
Nigar Sultana Joty has captained Bangladesh in the shortest format since making her full-time T20I captaincy debut against Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur on January 18, 2022. During her tenure, she has scored 1,851 runs at a strike rate of 97.47 and an average of 29.85 in 77 innings across 80 matches as captain. Her tally includes 13 half-centuries. Bangladesh have won 32 T20Is under her leadership, giving her a win percentage of 40.
Her decision comes after Bangladesh’s campaign at the 6th edition of the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026, hosted by the United Arab Emirates for the first time from August 28 to September 13. Led by Nigar, Bangladesh finished second in Group B during the league stage before their run ended in the first semi-final against India on September 10. Harmanpreet Kaur’s India secured a 40-run victory to advance to the final and eventually claim their 4th T20 Asia Cup title (2012, 2016, 2022, and now 2026).
Nigar endured a difficult tournament with the bat, scoring 56 runs at a strike rate of 86.15 and an average of 14 across four innings and matches. However, her wider contribution to Bangladesh’s T20I setup remains significant. Since making her international debut against Pakistan in Karachi on September 30, 2015, she has accumulated 2,709 runs at a strike rate of 93.34 and an average of 27.36 in 126 innings across 132 T20Is. Her record includes 13 half-centuries and one century.
One of the defining moments of Nigar’s captaincy came at the 2024 T20 World Cup, where Bangladesh defeated Scotland to register their first victory in the competition in a decade. Nigar also played a crucial role in that campaign, scoring 104 runs in four innings and completing seven dismissals behind the stumps.
Her leadership, however, has also faced pressure. Bangladesh went unbeaten in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, but a 2-1 home series defeat to Sri Lanka, mixed results in the Scotland-Netherlands tri-series and two wins from five matches at the T20 World Cup in England and Wales earlier this year intensified scrutiny of her captaincy.
Before relinquishing the T20I role, Nigar will lead Bangladesh at the Asian Games in Japan, scheduled from September 17 to 22. Bangladesh begin their campaign against China in the first quarter-final at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, on September 17 at 5:30 AM IST. The team won silver medals in the inaugural 2010 edition and in 2014, before claiming bronze in the 2023 tournament.
As Nigar prepares for her final assignment as T20I captain, Bangladesh will hope to add another medal to that record while beginning a new chapter in their leadership structure.
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