Bangladesh Women's Cricket Team for ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Players, Profiles & Match Schedule
Bangladesh Women's cricket team arrives at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 in England, riding a wave of confidence few would have predicted a decade ago. They qualified through an unbeaten run in the 2026 Global Qualifier, winning all seven matches across the group stage. Under captain Nigar Sultana Joty, this is a squad with serious bowling firepower, emerging batting talent, and a real belief that they can get out of the group stage.
Bangladesh Women's Team Profile at a Glance
| Parameter | Details |
| Team Nickname | Tigresses / Female Tigers |
| National Body | Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) |
| Captain | Nigar Sultana Joty |
| Vice-Captain | Nahida Akter |
| Head Coach | Sarwar Imran |
| ICC T20I Ranking | 9th (as of 2026) |
| T20 World Cup Appearances | 7 (Debut: 2014) |
| Best T20 WC Result | 7th (2024) |
| Home Ground | Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, Khulna |
Source: Wikipedia / ICC
How Bangladesh Qualified for WT20 WC 2026
Bangladesh did not receive an automatic qualification for the 2026 edition. They had to go through the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Global Qualifier. The team dominated it completely. Seven matches, seven wins, zero losses. They topped both the group stage and the Super Six without dropping a single game, securing their berth well ahead of the final. That kind of unbeaten run doesn't happen by accident. It speaks to a well-drilled unit that is peaking at the right time.
Bangladesh Women's Squad & Career T20I Stats
| # | Player | Role | Matches | Batting S/R | Bowling S/R | Economy Rate |
| 1 | Nigar Sultana Joty (c) | WK-Batter | 119 | 95.4 | N/A | N/A |
| 2 | Nahida Akter (vc) | Spin Bowler (SLA) | 115 | 56.2 | 18.5 | 5.82 |
| 3 | Sharmin Akter Supta | Batter | 72 | 93.1 | N/A | N/A |
| 4 | Sobhana Mostary | Batter | 57 | 97.2 | N/A | N/A |
| 5 | Shorna Akter | All-Rounder (Leg-break) | 28 | 101.5 | 17.8 | 5.98 |
| 6 | Ritu Moni | All-Rounder (RM) | 88 | 85.3 | 22.4 | 6.12 |
| 7 | Rabeya Khan | All-Rounder (Leg-break) | 31 | 78.6 | 19.2 | 6.2 |
| 8 | Fahima Khatun | Spin Bowler (Leg-break) | 93 | 72.4 | 19.6 | 5.82 |
| 9 | Fariha Islam Trisna | Pace Bowler (LAM) | 22 | 60.1 | 21.3 | 6.44 |
| 10 | Marufa Akter | Pace Bowler (RFM) | 37 | 45.2 | 20.7 | 6.4 |
| 11 | Shanjida Akther Maghla | Spin Bowler (SLA) | 44 | 64.3 | 20.1 | 6.05 |
| 12 | Sultana Khatun | All-Rounder (Off-break) | 61 | 69.8 | 21.8 | 6.18 |
| 13 | Dilara Akter | WK-Batter | 18 | 89.5 | N/A | N/A |
| 14 | Juairiya Ferdous | WK-Batter | 10 | 114.37 | N/A | N/A |
| 15 | Taj Nehar | Batter | 8 | 108.2 | N/A | N/A |
Source: ESPNcricinfo / ICC
Bangladesh Women's Full Squad for WT20 WC 2026
Nigar Sultana Joty
- Age: 28 (August 1 1997)
- Role: Captain, Wicketkeeper-Batter
Joty is the heartbeat of this team. She has been Bangladesh's captain across formats since 2021 and is the most capped and highest run-scoring T20I player in the team's history with over 2,300 T20I runs. A calm presence behind the stumps and a dependable middle-order anchor, she was a key figure in Bangladesh's 2018 Asia Cup triumph. That was their only major title. She scored the top knock in the final against India. In 2026, her leadership experience becomes just as important as her bat.
Nahida Akter
- Age: 26 (March 2 2000)
- Role: Vice-captain, Spin Bowler (Slow Left-Arm Orthodox)
Nahida is Bangladesh's most dangerous weapon in any format. With 115 T20I wickets, she is a genuine match-winner on surfaces that offer any turn. This is the most by any Bangladesh bowler, male or female. She is among the top five T20I wicket-takers in women's cricket globally and routinely bowls economically in the powerplay and middle overs alike. Nahida's pace variations and clever use of top skills make her effective even on flat tracks.
Sharmin Akter Supta
- Age: 30 (December 31 1995)
- Role: Opening batter
Bangladesh's most experienced batter in ODI cricket, Sharmin, debuted back in 2011 and remains a cornerstone of the top order. She is the highest run-scorer for Bangladesh in ODIs over the past 12 months with 568 runs at 43.69. In T20Is, she gives Bangladesh stability at the top with a consistent average of 32. At 30, she brings composure to a batting lineup that can sometimes struggle against high-quality attacks.
Sobhana Mostary
- Age: 24 (February 13 2002)
- Role: Batter (top/middle-order)
Sobhana is one of the most technically correct young batters in the team. She has been a fixture in both ODI and T20I squads since 2018 and has shown consistent improvement. Her part-time off-spin also gives Joty an extra bowling option if needed. At 24, this is the World Cup where she could truly announce herself on the global stage.
Shorna Akter
- Age: 19 (January 1 2007)
- Role: All-Rounder (Right-hand bat, Leg-break)
The youngest player in the squad and arguably the most exciting. Shorna debuted at just 16 and already has a five-wicket haul in T20Is to her name. She took 5/28 against South Africa in December 2023. She scored 153 runs at an average of 51.00 in the 2023 U19 Women's T20 World Cup. Shorna gives Bangladesh a genuine X-factor: she can contribute runs in the lower-middle order, provide wickets at any stage, and field like an athlete.
Ritu Moni
- Age: 33 (February 5, 1993)
- Role: All-Rounder
Ritu Moni is the senior campaigner in the pace-bowling department and a useful lower-order hitter. With over a decade in international cricket, she brings calming experience in pressure situations and is a reliable option for the captain to turn to for tight overs. Her medium pace can also cause problems on early-morning English pitches when the ball swings.
Rabeya Khan
- Age: 21 (May 11, 2005)
- Role: All-Rounder (Right-hand bat, Leg-break)
Rabeya is emerging as a genuine match-winning spinner. Over the past 12 months, she has taken 16 ODI wickets and 5 T20I wickets and has developed into one of the more consistent leg-spinners in the squad. She battles it out with Shorna for that leg-spin berth, and the competition between them only raises the standard. In T20Is, she averages 17.60 with the ball.
Fahima Khatun
- Age: 33 (November 2 1992)
- Role: All-rounder (Right-arm leg-break)
A veteran of multiple World Cups, Fahima is Bangladesh's premier leg-spin option and has been for over a decade. She made history as the first Bangladesh cricketer — male or female — to take a hat-trick in a WT20I. With 67 T20I wickets, her ability to deceive batters with the googly makes her particularly dangerous in the powerplay. Fahima's experience in major tournaments is irreplaceable, and in English conditions, her variations could be the difference in tight games.
Fariha Islam Trisna
- Age: 23 (September 13 2002)
- Role: Left-arm medium bowler
Fariha is the second seamer in the attack and gives Bangladesh the rare left-arm angle that can trouble right-hand dominant batting orders. She is economical, consistent, and importantly, able to swing the ball in overcast English conditions. This is exactly what Bangladesh could encounter. Her 2026 World Cup campaign could define her career trajectory.
Marufa Akter
- Age: 21 (January 1 2005)
- Role: Bowler (Right-arm medium-fast)
Marufa is Bangladesh's primary pace weapon and one of the fastest bowlers in women's cricket on the subcontinent. The Nilphamari-born speedster is already in her third T20 World Cup at just 21 and carries 28 T20I wickets at an economy of 6.40. Her ability to bowl incisive overs in the powerplay is a genuine asset. England's green-tinged early-morning pitches suit her skill-set perfectly.
Shanjida Akther Maghla
- Age: 25 (June 4 2001)
- Role: Spin Bowler (Slow Left-arm Orthodox)
Shanjida brings left-arm orthodoxy to complement Nahida's left-arm spin from the other end. This gives Bangladesh the ability to attack with spin from both ends simultaneously. She is a devastating option in spin-friendly conditions. She has proven she can control the run-rate when brought on in the middle overs.
Sultana Khatun
- Age: 30 (February 5 1996)
- Role: Bowler (Right-arm off-break)
Sultana Khatun is a consistent off-spinner who has been part of the Bangladesh setup for several years. She provides batting support in the lower order when required. Her experience of playing global tournaments makes her a reliable squad member.
Dilara Akter
- Age: 22 (April 6 2004)
- Role: Wicketkeeper-Batsman
Dilara is the reserve wicketkeeper and a right-handed batter who gives Bangladesh depth in the middle order. Born in Dinajpur, she made her T20I debut at 18 against New Zealand and has been developing steadily. Her keeping skills give the captain a solid back-up option behind the stumps.
Juairiya Ferdous
- Age: 20 (October 5 2005)
- Role: Wicketkeeper-Batter
Juairiya is the youngest wicketkeeper in the squad and earned her first senior call-up for the Sri Lanka ODI series in April 2026. Her maiden international recognition is a sign of how seriously Bangladesh are planning for the future. At this World Cup, she is likely to be in learning mode.
Taj Nehar
- Age: 28 (October 3 1997)
- Role: Top-order Batter
Taj Nehar is the notable addition to the squad from the Global Qualifier group. With eight T20I appearances already, she was specifically included to boost Bangladesh's batting depth - an area where they have traditionally been fragile. Her aggressive, high-strike-rate approach adds a different dimension to a batting lineup that can sometimes be too conservative.
Bangladesh Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Match Schedule
| Match No. | Date | Opponent | Venue |
| Group Match 1 | 14 June 2026 | vs Netherlands | Edgbaston, Birmingham |
| Group Match 2 | 17 June 2026 | vs Australia | Headingley, Leeds |
| Group Match 3 | 20 June 2026 | vs Pakistan | Hampshire Bowl, Southampton |
| Group Match 4 | 25 June 2026 | vs India | Old Trafford, Manchester |
| Group Match 5 | 28 June 2026 | vs South Africa | Lord's Cricket Ground, London |
Bangladesh's Strengths Going Into WT20 WC 2026
Bowling Depth is World-Class: The team has five frontline spinners like Nahida, Fahima, Rabeya, Shorna, and Shanjida. These are all genuinely impressive. Very few T20 teams in the world carry this much spin variety. Add Marufa's pace and Fariha's left-arm seam, and Bangladesh can bowl sides out on any surface.
Unbeaten Qualifier Run: Because the team won all 7 of its qualifying matches last time, the players have developed strong teamwork and genuine confidence. They are going to play at a high level and have good momentum going into future matches.
Experienced Leadership: Joty's leadership across multiple ICC events from the 2022 ODI World Cup to the 2024 T20 WC means the squad won't freeze under pressure. She has seen and led through it all.
Where Bangladesh Need to Improve
The batting is the honest concern. Against Australia on June 17 and India on June 25, Bangladesh will face world-class pace and spin attacks. The top five need to bat longer and build totals above 130 consistently. Taj Nehar's inclusion is a direct response to this gap, but questions about the batting's ceiling remain.
They have also never made it past the group stage in T20 World Cup history. Seven appearances. Zero semi-finals. Breaking that ceiling in England in 2026 would be the defining statement of Joty's captaincy era.
Can the Tigresses Surprise at WT20 WC 2026?
Bangladesh Women's cricket has come an extraordinary distance since their 2014 debut in Dhaka as hosts. That team scraped 2 wins from 5. This team qualified unbeaten through a 10-team global qualifier and arrived in England as a disciplined, hard-to-beat unit.
The group it's in is brutal - Australia, India, South Africa, Pakistan, Netherlands. A top-two finish looks difficult on paper. But if Bangladesh's spinners fire on English surfaces that offer early-season moisture and late-turn, and if the batting holds up for 15–18 overs per innings, one or two upsets are absolutely possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the captain of the Bangladesh Women's cricket team in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026?
Nigar Sultana Joty is the captain of the Bangladesh Women's team for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026.
How many players are in the Bangladesh Women's squad for the WT20 WC 2026?
Bangladesh have named a 15-member squad. The squad was officially announced by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on May 10 2026.
When will Bangladesh Women play their first match in the T20 World Cup 2026?
Bangladesh Women will be having their first match on June 14 2026, against the Netherlands at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Which group is Bangladesh Women's in at the T20 World Cup 2026?
Bangladesh Women are placed in group A. It is one of the most competitive groups in the tournament.
What is Bangladesh Women's best result in the T20 World Cup?
Bangladesh Women's best result in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup is 7th place, achieved at the 2024 edition held in the UAE. They have participated in seven T20 World Cups overall, with 2026 being their seventh appearance.
Who is the youngest player in the Bangladesh Women's T20 World Cup 2026 squad?
Shorna Akter, born on January 1 2007, is the youngest player in the Bangladesh Women's squad at just 19 years old.
Where will Bangladesh Women play their matches in the T20 World Cup 2026?
Bangladesh Women's five group-stage matches will be played across England at Edgbaston (Birmingham), Headingley (Leeds), Hampshire Bowl (Southampton), Old Trafford (Manchester), and Lord's Cricket Ground (London).
Has Bangladesh Women ever won the Asia Cup?
Yes. Bangladesh Women won the Women's Asia Cup in 2018. The team defeated India in the final in Malaysia. It remains their biggest title win to date.
Want to know more about the captain leading Bangladesh’s title charge? Read our in-depth profile of Nigar Sultana Joty on Skoringly.