Mohammad Hafeez: “Salman Ali Agha has replaced Babar Azam [at] number three in T20s and has become more successful than Babar”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez believes T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has been more successful than Babar Azam at the number three spot in T20Is.
Salman recently promoted himself to the role, replacing Azam, who has traditionally occupied the one down spot. It is worth noting that Azam has also opened the batting for Pakistan in the format in the past.
Hafeez praised Salman’s contributions with the bat and expressed his desire to see the 32-year-old continue in the role.
“Salman Ali Agha has replaced Babar Azam [at] number three in T20s and has become more successful than Babar,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on X.
Salman recently featured in Pakistan’s two-Test series against Bangladesh and scored 176 runs, which included two fifties, at an average of 44.
He then took part in the three-match ODI series against Australia and made 28 runs at an average of 9.33.
Salman will be back in action with the Pakistan team when they take on the West Indies in a two-Test series in Trinidad and Tobago from July 25 to August 6.
After that, the men in green will face England in a three-Test series from August 19 to September 13.
Azam will captain Pakistan in both series after replacing Shan Masood in the role.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah
Pakistan Squad for England Test series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah