Tag: Salman Ali Agha

T20I captain Salman Ali Agha is among the latest nominees from Pakistan, as Cricket Australia (CA) released the full list of overseas players for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) 15 draft.

A total of 74 Pakistani male cricketers and 11 female players have thrown their hats in the ring for the BBL and Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) drafts, scheduled on June 19.

Along with Salman Ali Agha, explosive opener Mohammad Haris, and mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed have also signed up for the upcoming draft. All three players are eyeing a BBL stint after strong performances in recent domestic and international fixtures.

These new entries add to a group of Pakistani stars who had already registered for the BBL 15 Draft, including Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, and Mohammad Hasnain.

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Meanwhile, star batter Babar Azam has already been snapped up by the Sydney Sixers as one of the 15 pre-signed marquee players announced across both men’s and women’s competitions.

The BBL 15 draft pool features over 600 players from across the globe, making it one of the most competitive selections in recent years.

Players from England (178), West Indies (42), Sri Lanka (13), and even India (1) are part of the men’s draft, while the women’s pool sees strong representation from England (46), India (15), New Zealand (15), and Pakistan (11).

Brisbane Heat will hold the No. 1 pick in the men’s draft and will get first crack at assembling their overseas roster from this stacked talent pool.

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Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has named four players that he believes could be the backbone of the national team in the years to come.

Speaking during a special Eid transmission on a local news channel, the all-rounder was asked to name individuals he sees as central to Pakistan cricket’s progress over the next five years.

In response, he named Hasan Nawaz, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris, and Sahibzada Farhan as the ones to watch.

“I believe there are four players around whom the future of Pakistan cricket will revolve, Hasan Nawaz, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris, and Sahibzada Farhan,” Salman said.

“These four, in my opinion, are capable of winning matches for Pakistan going forward.”

The remarks come at a time when Pakistan cricket is going through a transitional phase, with the spotlight increasingly on young talent emerging from domestic circuits and franchise leagues.

Under Salman’s leadership, Pakistan recently whitewashed Bangladesh 3-0 in a home ODI series played in Lahore.

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Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Haris, in particular, were among the standout performers, carrying forward their aggressive form from the recently concluded PSL 10.

Salman Ali Agha also reflected on his cricketing inspirations, naming former batting great Mohammad Yousuf as his idol.

“I used to like Mohammad Yousuf’s batting a lot. I followed him closely. Even now, if I’m stuck somewhere, I go to YouTube and watch his videos,” he shared, adding that on the international stage, he admired former Australian captain Michael Clarke.

He also addressed speculation about team dynamics, asserting that minor disagreements between players are natural but shouldn’t be misunderstood.

“There is nothing personal between cricketers. When people spend time together, differences are natural — whether it’s within a household or a team. There’s no politics involved,” he clarified.

“We spend 10–11 months of the year together, so small differences are bound to happen.”

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Pakistan T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha is reportedly on the brink of being named the national team’s all-format captain, following a wave of support from selectors, new white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, and the country’s cricket board.

According to sources close to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the 31-year-old middle-order batter has left a strong impression on the decision-makers during his brief stint in charge.

Originally named captain for the T20I leg of the Zimbabwe tour in December 2024, a move aimed at giving Mohammad Rizwan some rest, Salman quickly won over the camp with his clear communication, composure, and tactical awareness.

“Salman [Ali Agha] has been impressive in the opinions of the selection committee, head coach Hesson, and most importantly, Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi. All are on the same page that he should be the all-format captain,” the sources confirmed.

An official announcement is expected post-Eid, marking a significant shift in Pakistan’s leadership structure across formats.

The move, however, signals a decline in the leadership futures of both Mohammad Rizwan and Shan Masood.

Rizwan, currently leading the ODI setup, appears to have fallen out of favour with the PCB and the selection committee, which is strongly influenced by Aqib Javed.

Insiders point to Rizwan’s fractured relationship with Aqib, a tension that surfaced during the New Zealand tour earlier this year, as one of the reasons behind the shift.

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Pakistan were whitewashed 3-0 in the ODI series during that tour, and Rizwan’s post-series remarks on his limited say in selection matters reportedly didn’t go down well with the PCB.

Meanwhile, Test skipper Shan Masood is also reportedly on borrowed time. Under his captaincy, Pakistan have endured a torrid run in the longest format, losing 9 of 12 Tests since December 2023.

The most damaging blow came in the form of a historic 2-0 home series defeat to Bangladesh.

The team’s struggles continued with a drawn series against a depleted West Indies side and a steady slide to the bottom of the World Test Championship (WTC) standings.

“Masood’s captaincy lacked spark, and his own performances didn’t help his cause. It was only a matter of time before changes were made. Salman will take over in Tests too,” added the sources.

The leadership transition comes ahead of a busy international schedule. Pakistan are set to play a three-match T20I series in Bangladesh on July 20, 22, and 24, followed by a white-ball tour of the West Indies in August featuring three ODIs and three T20Is.

In red-ball cricket, Pakistan are due to host South Africa for a two-Test series in October. The new WTC cycle (2025-2027) will see Pakistan welcome Sri Lanka and New Zealand at home, while they’re scheduled to tour Bangladesh, the West Indies, and England.

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Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has stirred the pot with a bold claim, suggesting that all-rounder Salman Ali Agha is set to become the country’s next Test captain, and potentially take the reins across all three formats.

Taking to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Basit extended his congratulations to Salman, hinting at a dramatic shift in leadership within Pakistan cricket.

While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has yet to make anything official, Basit’s post has added fuel to growing speculation around a major captaincy shake-up.

According to earlier reports, a leadership overhaul was already on the cards.

Saud Shakeel had emerged as the likely candidate to replace Shan Masood in Tests, while vice-captain Salman Ali Agha was seen as the frontrunner to take over ODI duties from Mohammad Rizwan.

However, fresh developments suggest that the PCB is now considering a more sweeping change, with Salman potentially being elevated as Pakistan’s all-format captain.

The move, if confirmed, would signal a new era for Pakistan cricket, especially in the longest format, where results have been far from convincing.

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Shan Masood, who was appointed Test captain in November 2023, has endured a turbulent tenure.

Under his leadership, Pakistan played 12 Tests, winning just three and losing nine, including series whitewashes against Australia, Bangladesh, and South Africa.

The disappointing run saw Pakistan finish ninth in the current ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023–25 standings.

Pakistan’s next Test series is scheduled for October 2025, when South Africa are set to tour for two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is.

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Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha opened up after leading his side to a resounding 57-run win over Bangladesh in the second T20I at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.

This victory not only clinched the series 2-0 but also marked Pakistan’s first T20I series win at home in over three years.

The last time Pakistan won a T20I series on home soil was back in December 2021, when they swept West Indies 3-0.

Speaking after the match, Agha admitted he wasn’t aware of the three-and-a-half-year drought but called the win “incredibly special.”

“This achievement feels incredibly special – I hadn’t realised it’s been three and a half years since the last one. The team’s effort has made me immensely proud,” he said at the post-match presentation.

With the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, Salman Ali Agha also laid out his vision for building a squad that’s not just balanced but deep enough to handle injuries without disruption.

“This is exactly what we’ve built towards – having 15 match-ready players. That depth means seamless replacements for any injuries – the kind of selection headache every captain dreams of,” he explained.

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He particularly stressed the need to develop a robust pace attack, highlighting the importance of having three reliable frontline seamers, backed up by three to four capable reserves.

“We’re committed to expanding our options, particularly in bowling depth. My vision is three frontline pacers plus 3-4 quality backups ready to step up when needed.”

Agha, who has quickly grown into the leadership role, credited the team’s attitude and hunger to perform for making his job smoother.

“Leading this team is a joy. When players are this motivated to perform for their country, my job becomes easier. I hope we maintain this standard long-term,” he said.

One of the brightest sparks of this series has been Hasan Nawaz — the young batter who continues to impress with his fearless approach and shot-making ability. Agha was full of praise for the rising star.

“Hasan Nawaz is batting at another level. His ability to dominate spinners and clear boundaries at will is rare,” he remarked. “He’s embraced his middle-order role brilliantly – this generational talent is transforming our lineup.”

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LAHORE: Pakistan T20 International (T20Is) captain Salman Ali Agha has vowed to play modern-day cricket, emphasizing a ‘Fearless, not careless’ approach ahead of the Bangladesh series.

While addressing the media here ahead of the first T20I, Salman addressed the question regarding the Pakistan team’s approach in the shorter format.

“It’s not the only Islamabad United method. If you look around the world, cricket is played in this manner, and people are following the attacking style.

We’re also aiming to stick with the attacking style we’ve developed and sustain it for the long run, and it’s attacking cricket as well, in which you remain ‘fearless but not careless’,” Agha Salman told reporters.

Salman Ali Agha praised the Bangladesh team, noting that we will try to play good cricket.

“Any series in international cricket is not easy, and currently, the Bangladesh team is very skillful,” he added.

He also mentioned the key player that Pakistan will target as a crucial wicket.

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”Litton Das will be prize wicket for us and we will ensure that he should not score too many runs,” he said of Bangaldesh’s skipper.

Pakistan has changed eight players from the T20I team that toured New Zealand earlier this year. Speaking about the changes, he said that keeping Sri Lankan conditions in mind, we aim to have a pool of 20 to 25 players.

“We aim to create the best playing XI for the World Cup in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, want to assemble a pool of 20 to 25 players so that if any player is injured, we have a replacement,” Salman Ali Agha concluded.

The right-handed batter also emphasized the Playing XI against Bangladesh, particularly mentioning Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 ‘Player of the Tournament’ Hasan Nawaz’s batting position.

“We picked the team according to players’ international and PSL form. With my suggestion, the final XI is decided. Hasan Nawaz has played really well in the middle order in PSL, so I don’t think he needs to open,” Salman Ali Agha Concluded.

The three-match T20I series between Pakistan and Bangladesh is scheduled to begin tomorrow.

The second and third matches are scheduled for May 30 and June 1, respectively, all taking place at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. All matches will be played under lights.

READ: Salman Ali Agha reveals reason behind dropping Sufiyan Muqeem

LAHORE: Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan’s T20I captain, has revealed the reason behind dropping the left-arm wrist-spinner Sufiyan Muqeem for the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh.

Speaking in a pre-match press conference, Agha Salman hailed Sufiyan Muqeem, calling him the future of white-balls cricket for the Pakistan team.

“I personally like Sufyan a lot, and in the upcoming series, he will feature in our shorter formats squads. I think Sufyan will play a crucial role in the white-ball format, and he will win a lot of matches for Pakistan in the future.

The skipper also revealed the reason for dropping, stressing the conditions here during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10.

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”If we look at the conditions, spinners did not have much success here [Lahore], so a fast bowler is added in his place,” he explained.

It is worth mentioning that Sufiyan Muqeem featured in the ODI and T20I series against New Zealand this year. He played the last match of the three-match T20I series, returning with the figures of two for six in two overs.

The three-match T20I series between Pakistan and Bangladesh is set to begin tomorrow.

The second and third matches are scheduled for May 30 and June 1, respectively, all taking place at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. All matches will be played under lights.

Pakistan-Bangladesh Squads

Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub.

Bangladesh: Litton Das (captain), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Zakir Ali, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan (vice-captain), Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Shoriful Islam.

Pakistan-Bangladesh T20I series schedule:

28 May – 1st T20I, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
30 May – 2nd T20I, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
1 June – 3rd T20I, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

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LAHORE: Islamabad United’s stand-in captain, Agha Salman, has shared his thoughts after the team’s defeat to Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10.

Opting to bat first,  Islamabad United posted 143 for the loss of nine wickets in their allocated 20 overs.

Peshawar Zalmi successfully chased a target of 144 runs, completing the match in just 16.4 overs with six wickets remaining and 20 balls to spare here at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.

While speaking during the post-match press conference, Salman Ali admitted that the team didn’t play their best cricket in the last two matches, which led to consecutive defeats.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

“It’s not that we relaxed,” he said. “We just haven’t played quality cricket in the last two games, and that’s why we lost.”

He also shed light on Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan, who was injured during the match.

“I don’t know the status of Shadab’s injury because it’s too early to say,” he remarked.

The middle-order batter emphasised that the team is focused on learning from their mistakes.

“We’re trying to overcome our mistakes,” Salman Ali added.

When asked about selection and squad dynamics, Salman said he and the selectors are closely monitoring emerging players.

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“PSL is Pakistan’s prime tournament, and as a captain, I am also watching the performances of youngsters.  I am sure that selectors are watching as well,” he noted.

Reflecting on the team’s approach, he revealed that Islamabad made strategic changes even during their winning run.

“We were making changes even when we were winning because it’s a long tournament, ” he explained.

He also dismissed the notion that the team is in danger of qualifying for the playoffs after recent losses.

“There’s no panic at all,” he clarified. “Yes, we’ve lost two but won five, so we have ample matches to make a comeback.”

Salman also confirmed he missed some matches due to injury but assured that he’s working his way back to full fitness.

“I was injured due to a Quad injury,” he concluded.

READ: PSL 10: Babar, Maaz star as Peshawar Zalmi thump Islamabad United

Pakistan’s T20I captain and Islamabad United all-rounder Salman Ali Agha has opened up about his long-standing friendship with star batter Babar Azam, a bond that goes back to their school cricket days.

In a candid conversation with a local sports outlet, Salman shared that his journey with Babar started well before the spotlight.

“Babar Azam and I used to play cricket together at the school level. He played for Muslim Model School and I used to represent Central Model School,” he said.

“Our teams used to play matches against each other, and that’s where our friendship began.”

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From competing in inter-school matches to sharing the same dressing room for Pakistan, the duo has grown together in cricket.

“Later on, we played together in the Under-16 and Under-19. I’ve known Babar for a long time,” Salman Ali Agha added.

The 31-year-old also talked about his strong off-field equation with several national teammates, adding that many of them share a genuine friendship beyond cricket.

“I’m also friends with Shadab Khan, Saud Shakeel, Abdullah Shafique, and Saim Ayub. We often go out to eat together,” he revealed.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

Salman Ali Agha also praised Shadab for his captaincy, calling him one of the finest leaders in the Pakistan Super League.

“In the last five to six years, Shadab Khan has captained Islamabad United in a magnificent way. If you look at his record, it is quite impressive,” he said.

He credited Shadab’s ability to stay calm and make key calls during crunch situations.

“He makes effective decisions during pressure situations, which benefit the team,” Salman noted. “Right now, in PSL, he is one of Pakistan’s best captains.”

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DUBAI: Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf and vice-captain Salman Ali Agha have made notable gains in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Rankings, released on Wednesday, despite the team’s ongoing struggles in the white-ball series against New Zealand.

Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand has been anything but smooth. After a 4-1 drubbing in the T20I series, the Men in Green carried their poor form into the ODIs, losing the opener by 73 runs before conceding the series with an 84-run defeat in the second match earlier today.

However, the updated ODI rankings—calculated before today’s game—brought some individual positives.

Haris Rauf, who impressed with figures of 2-38 in the first ODI, jumped nine places to secure the 16th spot in the ICC ODI Bowling Rankings with 578 rating points.

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Meanwhile, Pakistan’s premier pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is absent from the ODI squad, slipped two places and dropped out of the top 10. He now sits at 11th with 613 points.

On the batting charts, Salman Ali Agha’s gritty 58-run knock in the series opener helped him climb six spots, placing him in joint 37th alongside New Zealand’s Tom Latham.

However, it wasn’t all good news for Pakistan’s batters. Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan lost two and one spot, respectively, and are now positioned at 20th and 21st in the rankings.

Babar Azam, though, remains Pakistan’s highest-ranked batter, holding firm at the second spot in the ICC ODI Batting Rankings.

With Pakistan already trailing 2-0 in the series, they now face the daunting task of avoiding a clean sweep in the final ODI against a dominant New Zealand side.

READ: Rizwan reflects on Pakistan’s defeat in second ODI against New Zealand