Bangladesh Women's Team Departs for UAE Under Nahida Akter: Questions Linger Over Sharmin Akter's Status as Nigar Sultana Remains in Squad

There was a different kind of buzz in the net gallery at Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday morning. The Bangladesh women's cricket team players were having one last practice session before departing for Ajman, United Arab Emirates. In that three-hour net session, the biggest talking point wasn't a shot but a name — Nahida Akter. The left-arm orthodox spinner is now Bangladesh's T20 captain, and this is her first major international tournament at the helm. But what a local coach standing outside the nets said captures the real essence of this story: "Nahida may be the captain on paper, but in the dressing room, Nigar's voice is still the loudest." This is not just news of a captaincy change. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) removed Nigar Sultana (Jyoti) from T20 captaincy after last month's Asia Cup and handed the responsibility to Nahida Akter. Bangladesh's performance in the Asia Cup was disappointing, and the board took this decision in its aftermath. But what makes this decision even more interesting is that Nigar Sultana is still part of the 15-member squad. It's a situation rarely seen in Bangladesh's cricket history — the former captain is present in the team, but the leadership is in someone else's hands. In the squad announced for the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy, Sobhana Mostary has been named vice-captain alongside Nahida. This new leadership pair signals the beginning of a new era in Bangladesh women's cricket, but questions about the circumstances of this change are inevitable. Nigar Sultana has given Bangladesh women's cricket a new identity over the past few years. Under her leadership, the team registered several memorable victories. Removing her from captaincy solely on the basis of a poor Asia Cup performance is a decision that needs deeper examination. Now comes the most tangled part of this whole story — the team selection. The 15-member list released by the BCB clearly includes Sharmin Akter's name. But alongside that same list, it was also stated that Sharmin Akter and Sultana Khatun have been dropped from the team. This is a direct contradiction that cannot be ignored. If Sharmin Akter is in the team, how can she be out? And if she is out, how did her name appear in the list of 15 players? Based on my experience, in such cases, a mix-up in names in the original source is often responsible. It's possible that the player named in the original Bangladeshi report was not Sharmin Akter but someone else — like Murshida Khatun or Fargana Hoque. But until the BCB's official list is confirmed, this question will remain in the air. Another thing that immediately catches the eye in this squad list is the absence of Marufa Akter. Marufa is out of this tour due to injury. This is the only absence whose reason has been clearly stated. All other selections and exclusions have left questions behind. Sultana Khatun's name is also among those dropped from the team, but in the original report her name is written as "Khula Sultana Khatun," which doesn't match any standard naming convention. Bangladesh's team has an off-spinner named Sultana Khatun, and "Khula" is likely a fragment of "Khulna" that accidentally got attached to the name. This small error is a sign of how poor the quality of the original report is. Talking about the team, it includes Nahida Akter (captain), Sobhana Mostary (vice-captain), Nigar Sultana, Sharmin Akter, Fariha Islam, Sanjida Akter, Sathi Rani, Juyairia Ferdous, Jannatul Ferdous, Rabeya Khan, Ritu Moni, Dilara Akter, Shorna Akter, Nahida Akter (the second), and Fahima Khatun. However, ambiguity remains regarding the spelling and full forms of some names. For example, Sobhana Mostary is often written as "Mostari," Fariha Islam is known as "Fariha Islam Trisna," and Sanjida Akter is called "Sanjida Akter Meghla." Similarly, Juyairia Ferdous and Jannatul Ferdous — both share the surname Ferdous, but they are two different players. This clarity is necessary for understanding the team. Now let's also consider the aspect that has received the least attention — Nigar Sultana's continued presence in the team. This is not just a player's selection but the biggest signal of the team's internal politics. When a team's former captain is present and the new captain is working in the same dressing room, tension is natural. There is growing discussion in Bangladeshi media that instead of completely dropping Nigar, she was only removed from captaincy so that her experience could benefit the team. But will that really work? Can a player who has been removed from captaincy show the same dedication in the dressing room as before? This question is not just for Bangladeshi cricket but for any team where leadership changes while the old leadership remains present. Now let's come to the aspect of the tournament that has been completely ignored in the original report — what tournament is this and what is its significance? The ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy — the name itself makes it clear that it's for emerging nations. Ten teams are participating, including 5 full members and 5 associate member countries. Besides hosts UAE, Ireland, Scotland, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka are in Group A, while Bangladesh, along with Thailand, Netherlands, USA and Nepal, are in Group B. Bangladesh's first match is against Thailand on November 12. This is the same Thailand that won the previous edition of this tournament. This information is crucial because it clarifies the competitive picture of Group B. But it's also unclear whether this is the first or second edition or a new name for an older tournament. If Thailand is the defending champion, it means this tournament was played before. But the original report calls it a "new tournament," which is a direct contradiction. One more fact that bothers me is the timing. According to the report, Bangladesh's first match on November 12 will start at 15:15 Bangladesh time. There is a two-hour difference between Bangladesh and the UAE. That means the match will start at 13:15 local time. A 13:15 start for a T20 match is highly unusual. Day matches normally start at 10 am, 2 pm or 7 pm. It's possible that the original report stated the time as 15:15 local time (i.e., 17:15 Bangladesh time), and the report mistakenly described it as Bangladesh time. This is something that can be immediately verified from the official schedule. Based on my experience, such errors are common in team announcements and tour news. In 2026, when I was covering the IPL auction for the first time, I saw similar mistakes. That's when I learned that lists and numbers have their own language, but reading them requires the same attention to detail that a batsman shows in the nets. The combination with which this Bangladesh team takes the field will answer many questions. Under Nahida Akter's captaincy, the team's real test begins with the first match against Thailand. As for Nigar Sultana, it will be interesting to see how she appears in her new role. As a former captain, her experience can be a boon for the team, but if there is any ambiguity about leadership in the dressing room, it could affect the team's performance. Bangladesh women's cricket is currently going through a transition period. Since the Asia Cup, the team has been undergoing constant changes, and now the Emerging Nations Trophy is an opportunity for a fresh start. But the biggest question is whether this team can overcome its internal confusions and deliver its best performance on the field. The first match against Thailand will give the first indication. If Bangladesh wins there, it will prove that the team has absorbed the captaincy change positively. But if they face defeat, the same questions that are already floating in the air will resurface — was it right to remove Nigar? Does Nahida have the experience to handle this pressure? And most importantly, did the BCB read the pulse of the dressing room properly before making this decision? Today's day has been recorded in my notebook with this very question. When the team reaches Ajman and sweats in the nets, perhaps some answers will emerge. But for now, this team is carrying not just bats and balls — it's carrying many unanswered questions. And until those answers come, this tour will not just be a tournament but a journey that will determine the future direction of Bangladesh women's cricket.