Salman Ali Agha Appointed T20I Captain as Pakistan Makes Key Changes

The PCB has replaced Mohammad Rizwan with Salman Ali Agha as T20I captain. Rizwan remains captain for ODIs. The new leadership aims to prepare for upcoming tournaments. The T20I squad for New Zealand includes several uncapped players while notable players have been omitted due to injury. Aqib Javed continues as interim head coach.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the dismissal of Mohammad Rizwan as captain of the T20I team, appointing Salman Ali Agha in his stead. Rizwan, who was initially named captain in October of the previous year, has been relieved of his duties following a brief tenure of almost five months. Salman, who served as Rizwan’s vice-captain, will lead the team during the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, with Shadab Khan appointed as his deputy.

In a statement from the PCB, it was confirmed that while Rizwan will no longer captain the T20I squad, he will retain his role as the captain of the ODI team, with Salman serving as his vice-captain for the three ODI matches. The decision to appoint Salman and Shadab was made with future tournaments in mind, specifically the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Adding to the changes, both Rizwan and Babar Azam have been omitted from the T20I squad for the forthcoming tour of New Zealand. The selections include three uncapped players: Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Ali, while Akif Javed and Mohammad Ali feature in the ODI squad. Injured players Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub were excluded from consideration on medical advice.

Aqib Javed, a former fast bowler, will extend his role as interim head coach for the tour of New Zealand, his term originally slated to conclude with the Champions Trophy 2025. The Pakistan squads for the New Zealand tour have been finalized, reflecting strategic positions for both formats of the game.

In conclusion, the PCB has made significant leadership changes in the T20I format, appointing Salman Ali Agha as captain while retaining Mohammad Rizwan for the ODI team. This strategic move aligns with upcoming international tournaments, and adjustments in the squad have been made based on player performance and fitness. The coaching staff continues under Aqib Javed’s guidance as Pakistan prepares for the New Zealand tour.

Original Source: www.news18.com