Salman Ali Agha Named Pakistan’s T20I Captain for NZ Tour
- Fahad Bin Khalid
- March 5, 2025
- 10:15 am
- 96
- Sports
A New Era for Pakistan Cricket
Salman Ali Agha captain of Pakistan’s T20I squad marks a major change in leadership. He will lead the team in the upcoming series against New Zealand. Meanwhile, Shadab Khan returns as vice-captain after a long break.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is focusing on the 2025 Asia Cup and 2026 T20 World Cup. This decision signals a fresh approach to Pakistan’s white-ball cricket strategy.
Why Salman Ali Agha?
Salman Ali Agha captain of the T20I team is an unexpected move. He has proven himself in domestic cricket and ODIs, but his T20I experience is limited. The PCB wants to test his leadership skills before major ICC tournaments.
Meanwhile, Shadab Khan was once a strong captaincy candidate. His return as vice-captain shows that PCB still trusts his potential.
In ODIs, Mohammad Rizwan remains captain, with Salman Ali Agha as his deputy. This means Pakistan will have different captains for different formats, a strategy many top teams follow.
New Faces in the Squad
The Pakistan T20 squad includes three uncapped players:
- Abdul Samad – A powerful batsman who scored 115 runs at a strike rate of 166.67 in the T20 Cup.
- Hasan Nawaz – The second-highest run-scorer in the T20 Cup with 312 runs at 142.47.
- Mohammad Ali – A top bowler who took 22 wickets to become the tournament’s leading wicket-taker.
In ODIs, Akif Javed returns after taking 15 wickets in the T20 Cup and seven in the One-Day Cup. The selectors are rewarding domestic performances, which is a positive step for Pakistan cricket.
Challenges and Expectations
The New Zealand series will test Salman Ali Agha’s leadership skills. The team will face a strong New Zealand squad in fast-paced T20 matches.
Pakistan’s new approach focuses on fresh talent and long-term planning. If this strategy succeeds, it could shape Pakistan’s white-ball cricket future.
The decision to name Salman Ali Agha captain is a bold move. If he performs well, he could become a key leader in the upcoming ICC tournaments. Only time will tell if this gamble pays off.
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).
