Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha continues to have the backing of selectors and coach Mike Hesson, though the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed growing concerns over his performance, with discussions ongoing about his future as captain.
Despite leading Pakistan to the Asia Cup final in the UAE, Salman faced heavy criticism following three defeats to India. His batting form was notably poor, managing only 72 runs in seven matches at an average of 12 and a strike rate below 81. PCB officials were reportedly dissatisfied with some of his on-field decisions, especially during the final.
Under his captaincy, Pakistan has won 17 out of 30 T20Is. He has accumulated 557 runs with four half-centuries. Sources said selectors defended Salman by citing India’s skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who produced similar stats in the same tournament.
Coach Hesson has urged consistency, insisting that stability in leadership will yield long-term success. The PCB had considered reinstating Shaheen Afridi as captain, but selectors opposed the idea, also resisting Babar Azam’s return to the T20 squad to maintain opportunities for younger players.
Although Salman’s batting remains underwhelming, selectors see him as a tactically sharp leader. Pakistan’s next T20 series is against South Africa later this month, followed by the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka starting February 7.
