Bangladeshi Spinner Nahida Akter Rises to Vice-Captain Role, Inspired by Mentor Salma Khatun

As of October 7th, 2025, Bangladeshi left-arm spinner Nahida Akter has risen to become the vice-captain of the national women's cricket team. Nahida credits her former captain, Salma Khatun, for guiding her career in a way that is "beyond words."

Salma Khatun was recently appointed as Bangladesh's first-ever woman selector, a testament to her immense contribution to the growth of women's cricket in the country. Nahida, who broke into the national team under Salma's captaincy, says watching the legendary player up close deepened her love for the game.

Nahida has grown into Bangladesh's leading wicket-taker across formats, and she now serves as the team's vice-captain. However, her initial years in international cricket were as much about learning as performing. Beyond Salma, Nahida observed how all-rounder Rumana Ahmed trained and played, which inspired her to raise her own game and become more useful to the team.

Nahida learned valuable lessons from Salma and Rumana, including the importance of composure and adaptability on the field. She believes that one good delivery can change the course of a game, and she has applied this mindset to her own bowling. Nahida has also drawn inspiration from other left-arm spinners, such as Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan and Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath.

As Nahida prepares for her second World Cup, she is determined to make a bigger impact as the team's lead spinner. Her journey has not been without challenges, as her family faced ridicule for letting a girl play cricket. However, with the unwavering support of her brother Nazim Ahmed, Nahida has emerged as one of the flag-bearers of Bangladesh women's cricket.