Bangladesh’s 15-member squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is led by captain Nigar Sultana Joty, with left-arm spinner Nahida Akter as vice-captain. Notably, this marks Joty’s third consecutive T20 World Cup as captain.
Furthermore, the Tigresses qualified for the tournament after going unbeaten through the 2026 Global Qualifier in Pakistan. Additionally, top-order batter Taj Nehar has been recalled to strengthen the line-up.
Bangladesh open Group 1 against Netherlands on 14 June 2026 at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Moreover, the tournament runs from 12 June to 5 July across England.
Bangladesh Women’s Squad for T20 World Cup 2026: Full 15-Player List
Here is the complete Bangladesh women’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, announced by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on 10 May 2026.
| # | Player | Role | Batting Style | Bowling Style |
| 1 | Nigar Sultana Joty (c) | Wicketkeeper-batter | Right-hand | — |
| 2 | Nahida Akter (vc) | Spinner | Right-hand | Slow left-arm orthodox |
| 3 | Sharmin Akter Supta | Top-order Batter | Right-hand | — |
| 4 | Sobhana Mostary | Batter | Right-hand | Right-arm off-break |
| 5 | Dilara Akter (wk) | Wicketkeeper-batter | Right-hand | — |
| 6 | Juairiya Ferdous (wk) | Wicketkeeper-batter | Right-hand | — |
| 7 | Taj Nehar | Top-order Batter | Right-hand | — |
| 8 | Shorna Akter | All-rounder | Right-hand | Right-arm off-break |
| 9 | Ritu Moni | Pace All-rounder | Right-hand | Right-arm medium |
| 10 | Fahima Khatun | Leg-spin All-rounder | Right-hand | Right-arm leg-break |
| 11 | Rabeya Khan | Leg-spinner | Right-hand | Right-arm leg-break |
| 12 | Sultana Khatun | Spinner | Right-hand | Right-arm off-break |
| 13 | Shanjida Akther Maghla | Spinner | Right-hand | Right-arm off-break |
| 14 | Marufa Akter | Pacer | Right-hand | Right-arm medium-fast |
| 15 | Fariha Islam Trisna | Pacer | Right-hand | Left-arm medium |
Notably, Sarmin Sultana drops out of the T20 setup, with Taj Nehar taking her place. Specifically, Nehar has eight prior T20Is to her name.
Squad Breakdown by Role: Batters, All-Rounders, Spinners & Pacers
Bangladesh’s squad is built around spin. Specifically, the side carries four top-order batters, three wicketkeepers, three all-rounders, three specialist spinners, and only two frontline pacers.
Top-Order Batters
Captain Nigar Sultana Joty anchors the top order alongside Sharmin Akter Supta, Sobhana Mostary, and recalled batter Taj Nehar.
Wicketkeeper-Batters
Joty handles primary keeping duties. Additionally, Dilara Akter and Juairiya Ferdous offer two backup keeper-batter options, an unusually deep keeper bench.
All-Rounders
Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, and Fahima Khatun offer batting depth plus secondary bowling options. Furthermore, Shorna Akter’s half-century in the recent Sri Lanka series marked her out as a rising middle-order threat.
Spinners
Vice-captain Nahida Akter leads the slow-bowling unit. Meanwhile, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, and Shanjida Akther Maghla round out a deep spin attack across leg-spin and off-spin.
Pace Bowling Department
Pace sensation Marufa Akter heads the seam attack. In addition, left-arm seamer Fariha Islam Trisna provides an alternative angle, supported by all-rounder Ritu Moni.
Key Players to Watch in Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup 2026 Squad
Several names carry the bulk of expectations for the Tigresses. Specifically, the spine of the side blends Joty’s anchor batting with a spin-heavy unit and the rapid rise of Marufa Akter.
Nigar Sultana Joty (Captain, Wicketkeeper-Batter)
Joty leads Bangladesh at her third T20 World Cup as captain. Furthermore, she remains the most important top-order batter for the Tigresses and anchored several key wins in the 2026 Global Qualifier.
Nahida Akter (Vice-Captain, Left-Arm Spinner)
Nahida is Bangladesh’s most senior wicket-taker across formats. Additionally, her vice-captaincy role formalises her status as the side’s bowling general in addition to a feature spinner.
Marufa Akter (Pacer)
Marufa was the breakout star of the 2025 ODI World Cup pace attack. Notably, the young right-arm seamer combines swing with relentless lengths and has been fearless against top opposition.
Sobhana Mostary (Middle-Order Batter)
Mostary anchors the middle order and has been one of Bangladesh’s most consistent voices through the recent rebuild. Moreover, her rotation game allows aggressive players around her to free up.
Shorna Akter (Young All-Rounder)
Shorna’s batting intent against Sri Lanka was a clear positive in an otherwise tough series. Furthermore, her right-arm off-spin offers a sixth bowling option in tight middle-overs phases.
Rabeya Khan (Leg-Spinner)
Rabeya brings genuine wrist-spin variety. Specifically, her leg-break and googly mix has produced key middle-over breakthroughs in recent qualifier outings.
Squad Context: Unbeaten Qualifier Run and Sri Lanka Setback
Bangladesh booked their World Cup spot with an unbeaten Global Qualifier run in early 2026. Specifically, the Tigresses topped both the group stage and the Super Six standings.
However, the recent home T20I series against Sri Lanka disappointed, providing a sharp reality check ahead of England. Consequently, the BCB largely retained the qualifier-winning unit, with one notable change in the batting line-up.
Furthermore, the side carries genuine T20 WC tournament experience. This will be Bangladesh’s seventh appearance at the Women’s T20 World Cup since their debut in 2014.
Nigar Sultana Joty Leads Bangladesh for a Third Straight T20 World Cup
Joty captains Bangladesh at her third consecutive T20 World Cup. Specifically, she has been at the helm since the 2023 South Africa edition and through 2024 in the UAE.
Notably, the BCB has kept the leadership group intact. Vice-captain Nahida Akter continues as deputy after also serving as VC during the Qualifier campaign. Therefore, continuity is a clear theme of selection.
Bangladesh’s Group 1 Opponents at Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
Bangladesh sit in Group 1, widely labelled the “Group of Death”. Specifically, they face Australia, India, South Africa, Pakistan, and Netherlands.
| Team | Captain | Note |
| Bangladesh | Nigar Sultana Joty | Unbeaten through 2026 Qualifier |
| Australia | Sophie Molineux | Six-time T20 WC champions |
| India | Harmanpreet Kaur | Reigning 50-over World Champions |
| South Africa | Laura Wolvaardt | Runners-up at 2024 T20 WC |
| Pakistan | Fatima Sana | Featured in every T20 WC; no knockouts yet |
| Netherlands | Babette de Leede | Tournament debutants |
Bangladesh’s Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Match Schedule
Bangladesh play five group-stage matches across five English venues. Specifically, the campaign starts against Netherlands at Edgbaston and culminates against South Africa at Lord’s on 28 June.
| Date | Match | Opponent | Venue (Start, BST) |
| 14 June (Sun) | 1 | Netherlands | Edgbaston, Birmingham (10:30) |
| 17 June (Wed) | 2 | Australia | Headingley, Leeds (10:30) |
| 20 June (Sat) | 3 | Pakistan | Hampshire Bowl, Southampton (14:30) |
| 25 June (Thu) | 4 | India | Old Trafford, Manchester (14:30) |
| 28 June (Sun) | 5 | South Africa | Lord’s, London (10:30) |
Pre-Tournament Build-Up: Edinburgh Tri-Series and Loughborough Warm-Ups
Before the World Cup, Bangladesh travelled to Edinburgh on 25 May 2026 for a tri-series with Scotland and Netherlands. Furthermore, the squad then moved to Loughborough for official ICC warm-up matches.
- Pre-tournament tri-series: vs Scotland and Netherlands, Edinburgh (from 25 May 2026)
- Warm-up matches at Loughborough ahead of the main event
Consequently, the Tigresses enter the tournament with both match practice in English conditions and a familiar opponent (Netherlands) faced just weeks before the World Cup opener.
Bangladesh’s Women’s T20 World Cup Record So Far
Bangladesh have featured in every Women’s T20 World Cup since 2014. However, the side has yet to reach the knockout stage in any edition.
- Editions played: Seven, including 2026 (debuted in 2014).
- Best result: Multiple group-stage wins, including a memorable 2024 victory over Sri Lanka in the UAE.
- Current ICC rankings (June 2026): 10th in T20I (rating 194).
Therefore, the 2026 campaign carries clear ambition. Specifically, the side has publicly stated it backs itself to deliver a best-ever T20 World Cup result.
Conclusion: Continuity and Spin Depth Anchor Bangladesh’s Bid
Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad mixes proven names like Joty, Nahida, and Marufa with continuity from the unbeaten qualifier campaign. Furthermore, the spin-heavy attack is well suited to slower English surfaces.
Consequently, the Tigresses head into the tournament with realistic ambitions. Bangladesh open against Netherlands on 14 June at Edgbaston, eyeing a long-awaited maiden ICC Women’s T20 World Cup knockout appearance.
