Rashid Latif: “If Babar Azam can’t be part of this [8th] ranked team after scoring 1000s of runs, then Salman Ali Agha with [four] 50s should not even be near the team”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has taken aim at T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, saying he “should not even be near the team” if batsman Babar Azam can’t get in “after scoring 1000s of runs”.
Azam used to be one of Pakistan’s go-to openers in the shortest format, but likely lost his spot due to his strike-rate, which many people complained was too low.
However, given how often the 30-year-old made big scores and led the men in green to victory, Latif can’t understand why he is being ignored by the selectors while Salman continues to be backed despite not being as consistent.
“If Babar Azam can’t be part of this [8th] ranked team after scoring 1000s of runs, then Salman Ali Agha with [four] 50s should not even be near the team,” he was quoted as saying by Khel Shel on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Salman scored 90 runs in three T20Is against Bangladesh in Lahore, which included a career-best knock of 56, at an average of 45 and a strike-rate of 155.17.
He then toured Bangladesh with the men in green and mustered 24 runs in three T20Is at an average of 12 and a strike-rate of 58.53.
As for the limited overs tour of the West Indies, the 31-year-old started off with 49 runs in three T20Is at an average of 49 and a strike-rate of 113.95.
He then proceeded to make 62 runs in three ODIs at an average of 20.66.
Azam also played in the ODI series, amassing 56 runs in three games at an average of 18.66.
Following the West Indies tour, Salman captained Pakistan in their T20I tri-series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan.
In five matches, he finished with 109 runs, which included a top score of 53 not out, at an average of 27.25 and a strike-rate of 118.47.
The men in green are now taking part in the 2025 Asia Cup, which is being held in the UAE.
So far, Salman hasn’t had much of an impact in the tournament as he has been restricted to 23 runs in three matches at an average of 7.66 and a strike-rate of 57.50.
Pakistan started with a 93-run win over Oman before losing to India by seven wickets.
Nonetheless, they made it to the Super Four with a comfortable 41-run win over the UAE.
Next up for the men in green will be a rematch against India on September 21 in Dubai.
Pakistan squad for UAE T20I tri-series and 2025 Asia Cup: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem
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