Salman Ali Agha a temporary captain! Ex-Pakistan cricketer exposes PCB’s dirty politics

In a shocking claim, former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali said that Salman Ali Agha was appointed as the temporary T20I captain for the upcoming series against New Zealand. Basit Ali stated that the team management wants to hand over the leadership to the leg-spinner, Shadab Khan, in the near future.

Pakistan have made a surprising move by appointing all-rounder Salman Ali Agha as the new T20I captain for the New Zealand tour. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been dropped from the T20I squad. The Men in Green aim to make a change in the team in preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

They Want to Make Shadab Khan the Captain - Basit Ali

Shadab Khan has been appointed as the vice-captain for the T20I side. Speaking in his latest YouTube video, Basit Ali said that the selectors' decision to make Salman Ali Agha captain is part of their strategy. Ali stated that Agha could be replaced by Shadab if Pakistan struggles on the New Zealand tour.

"The selectors did this (giving captaincy to Salman Ali Agha) because they want to make Shadab Khan the captain. The New Zealand tour will be a difficult one, then Shadab will be in the line. Let Shadab play, he is a good player. He will come if he performs well,” said Ali.

Salman Ali Agha Is Not a T20 Player - Basit Ali

The 54-year-old stated that Salman Ali Agha is a very good player in Tests and ODIs but isn't well-suited for T20 cricket. Ali criticized the selectors, saying favoritism influenced the squad selection. He further mentioned that some players were chosen based on personal preferences rather than merit.

“Salman Ali Agha is a very good player in Test matches and ODIs, but he is not a T20 player. The selectors turned a blind eye here,” Ali remarked.

“Pakistan has announced their squads, and it’s a complete mess. Some players were picked based on different people’s preferences. A team is not built this way. It seems they are trying to mislead the public,” he concluded.

Pakistan Set to Play Five-Match T20I Series Against New Zealand

Salman Ali Agha, who made his debut in 2024, has only played six T20I matches so far. He has captained four of these matches, including the series against Zimbabwe. Agha has not yet proven himself as a consistent performer in T20 cricket.

The right-handed batter has scored 1,137 runs in his 82 T20 appearances at an average of 18.95 and a strike rate of 116.13. With the ball, he has taken 40 wickets at an average of 22.22 and an economy rate of 6.79.

Pakistan will face New Zealand in a five-match T20I series later this month. They will then play a three-match T20I series against the West Indies in the Caribbean. Agha has an opportunity to experiment with his lineup in preparation for the upcoming Asia Cup, which will be played in the T20I format.

The 2026 T20 World Cup will be played in India and Sri Lanka in February and March. Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka, where the pitches are expected to favor spinners.

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