Nigar Sultana Joty has informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board of her decision to step down as captain of the women's T20 side, a move that has left officials both embarrassed and disappointed given its timing just before the team's departure for the Asian Games.

Joty emailed the board with her decision as the squad prepared to travel to Japan for the tournament, catching BCB Women's Wing chairman Rafiqul Islam Babu off guard.

"I honestly don't know why she suddenly decided to step down from T20I captaincy," he told Cricbuzz.

Babu explained that Joty had cited a desire to focus more heavily on her own game, having struggled for consistent batting form in recent times.

"The player does not feel comfortable and expressed a desire to focus more on batting and wicketkeeping, wishing to stay in the 50 over format while stepping away from T20s, an email was sent regarding this matter," he said.

The BCB's frustration centred largely on the timing of the announcement rather than the decision itself, given the team was already mid preparation for a major event.

"The decision taken before the Asian Games leaves me both embarrassed and deeply disappointed. If there were any issues or problems in that case I could have been informed after the team returned from the tournament. We could have reached a decision together," Babu said.

The board has not yet formally accepted Joty's request, with discussions expected once the squad returns from Japan. "Tamim and I will discuss and decide once they return. After they get back from the Asian Games, we will figure out the best way forward," Babu said, referring to BCB president Tamim Iqbal.

Joty first took charge of Bangladesh's ODI side in 2021, before being handed the T20 captaincy the following year as well. BCB sources have suggested recent media scrutiny surrounding her leadership may also have played a role in her decision to step back from the shorter format.

The Tigresses are currently based in Japan for the Asian Games, having already advanced to the semi finals of the cricket event without playing a ball, after their quarter final against China was abandoned in Nagoya on Thursday due to a persistently wet outfield.

Joty's tenure as T20 captain had produced mixed results in recent months. Bangladesh went through their most recent T20 World Cup qualifiers unbeaten under her leadership, but subsequently lost a home series to Sri Lanka, struggled in a tri series involving the Netherlands and Scotland, and won just two of five group stage matches at the T20 World Cup held in June and July.

Performances in the recently concluded T20 Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates also fell short of expectations, adding to growing scrutiny of her captaincy heading into this latest development.