Kamran Akmal: “If Shadab Khan returns to the Pakistan squad, I wouldn’t keep Salman Ali Agha in the T20 team”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal has said he would drop T20I captain Salman Ali Agha from the team if Shadab Khan is in the playing XI.
Before being handed the leadership role, Salman was among several contenders, but Shadab had long been considered a frontrunner candidate for the T20I captaincy given his wealth of experience, particularly in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he leads Islamabad United.
Akmal pointed out that since both players operate in the middle order, his preference would lean toward the spin-bowling all-rounder.
“If Shadab Khan returns to the Pakistan squad, I wouldn’t keep Salman Ali Agha in the T20 team,” he was quoted as saying by TOK Sports on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Salman is currently captaining Pakistan in the 2026 T20 World Cup, while Shadab is part of the squad as well.
So far, Salman has made 55 runs in four matches at an average of 13.75 and a strike-rate of 144.73.
He has also taken one wicket at an average of 10 and an economy rate of five.
Shadab, meanwhile, has amassed 88 runs in four games at an average of 29.33 and a strike-rate of 144.26.
Bowling-wise, he has claimed five wickets at an average of 17.60 and an economy rate of 6.76.
Pakistan beat the Netherlands, United States of America and Namibia in the group stage to make it through to the Super Eights. Their only loss so far has come against India.
The men in green will kick off their Super Eights journey against New Zealand on February 21 in Colombo.
Pakistan Squad for 2026 T20 World Cup: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq