 has taken a bold step by appointing Salman Ali Agha as the new T20I captain for the series against New Zealand.){kind=link}
Pakistan cricket has taken a bold step by appointing Salman Ali Agha as the new T20I captain for the upcoming series against New Zealand. Meanwhile, Shadab Khan returns to the squad as vice-captain after a long absence.
The move signals a shift in Pakistan’s white-ball strategy, with an eye on the 2025 Asia Cup and 2026 T20 World Cup. But is Salman the right choice? And what does this mean for the team’s future? Let’s break it down.
A New Captain, A New Direction?
Salman Ali Agha’s elevation to T20I captaincy comes as a surprise. While he has been a steady performer in domestic cricket and ODIs, his T20I experience is limited. This raises a big question: can he handle the pressure of leading Pakistan in a fast-paced format?
The PCB has taken this decision with long-term goals in mind. By giving Salman the responsibility now, they are testing his leadership ahead of two major ICC tournaments.
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Shadab Khan, who was once seen as a future captain, returns as vice-captain. His comeback after a rough patch in form suggests that PCB still sees potential in him as a leader.
Meanwhile, in the ODI format, Mohammad Rizwan remains captain, with Salman as his deputy. This means Pakistan is going with separate captains for different formats during the New Zealand tour—an approach that several top teams have successfully adopted.
Fresh Faces and New Opportunities
Pakistan’s squads for the New Zealand tour feature three uncapped players in T20Is—Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Ali. These youngsters have earned their spots with stellar performances in the Champions T20 Cup and One-Day Cup.
- Abdul Samad impressed with his explosive batting, scoring 115 runs at a strike rate of 166.67 in the T20 Cup.
- Hasan Nawaz was the second-highest run-getter in the same tournament, scoring 312 runs at 142.47.
- Mohammad Ali dominated with the ball, taking 22 wickets to finish as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker.
In the ODI squad, Akif Javed makes a return after taking 15 wickets in the T20 Cup and seven in the One-Day Cup. The selectors are clearly rewarding domestic performances, which is a positive sign for Pakistan cricket.
Pakistan’s decision to bring in a new T20I captain and introduce fresh talent is a bold move. While Salman Ali Agha’s leadership remains untested in this format, the selectors are clearly looking at the bigger picture. The series against New Zealand will be his first real test, and how he handles it will shape Pakistan’s white-ball future.
Will this gamble pay off, or will Pakistan have to rethink their strategy before the major tournaments? Only time will tell.
Pakistan Squads for the New Zealand Tour
ODI Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr., Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir.
T20I Squad: Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan (wk).
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