Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has publicly slammed the national cricket board’s choice to name Salman Agha as the T20I team captain. Afridi expressed serious doubts, particularly highlighting Agha’s exceptionally low strike rate of 79, and questioned how such a leader could foster an aggressive, fast-paced approach in the shortest format of the game.
The cricketing world, especially in Pakistan, is buzzing after legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi strongly criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to hand Salman Agha the T20I captaincy. This move has drawn significant backlash from former players and experts alike, particularly as Pakistan’s performance under Agha has been far from stellar.
Agha first took the reins of the T20I squad during a late 2024 tour of Zimbabwe. Now, leading the team in the high-stakes 2025 Asia Cup, his leadership is facing intense scrutiny, especially after a series of disappointing results.
The team’s struggles are evident, particularly in the ongoing Asia Cup, where Pakistan suffered two significant defeats against arch-rivals India. They lost by seven wickets in the group stage and were subsequently beaten by six wickets in the Super Four round. These losses have fueled widespread frustration among fans and seasoned cricket analysts.
Speaking candidly, Afridi stated, “It’s okay to take your time, make a thoughtful decision, and then place the right individual in the correct role – the decisions will naturally fall into place.” He elaborated on his personal opinion, saying, “Now, regarding Salman Ali Agha, you know, I really do like him. For One Day Internationals, yes, if you were to ask me for a captain, I would certainly name Salman Ali Agha.”
However, Afridi sharply contrasted this with T20 cricket: “But in T20s, you’ve made someone captain whose strike rate is merely 79. How can you justify appointing a captain with such a low strike rate? What kind of example does that set for other players about how aggressively they should be batting?”
He further emphasized his point: “So, my message is to take your time when selecting a captain. There’s no need to rush, and frankly, there isn’t any urgency right now. For the immediate future, we could simply continue with Rizwan; there’s no issue with that. Then, we can decide later. He is, after all, a valuable teammate.”
Looking ahead, Pakistan is scheduled to play Sri Lanka in their upcoming Super Four match on Tuesday.