Pakistan Cricket Board is set to replace Salman Ali Agha as T20I captain with all-rounder Shadab Khan following Pakistan’s three consecutive losses to India in the Asia Cup 2025. According to PTI, decision comes as part of a strategic reset ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka, with the change expected to be implemented once Shadab recovers from shoulder surgery next month.The decision was triggered by Pakistan’s poor performance against India during the Asia Cup 2025, where they lost all three encounters against their arch-rivals within a span of 15 days. The defeats occurred in the Group A clash on September 14, the Super Fours on September 21, and the final on September 28.The Asia Cup final proved particularly devastating for Pakistan. Despite a strong start with 113 for one, the team suffered a dramatic collapse, losing nine wickets for just 33 runs and getting bowled out for 146. India’s Kuldeep Yadav played a crucial role in the collapse, taking four wickets for 30 runs.India managed to chase down the target in a tense finish, with Tilak Varma scoring 69 runs to lead his team to victory by two wickets. The win secured India’s ninth Asia Cup title.Agha Salman’s personal performance in the tournament was notably poor, scoring only 72 runs in seven matches with a strike rate of 80.90 and an average of just 12. His captaincy decisions faced criticism throughout the tournament, and the consecutive losses to India further intensified the need for change.The selection of Shadab Khan as the new captain is based on his extensive experience in international cricket. He has represented Pakistan in 112 T20Is and has previously served as vice-captain. His experience extends to leadership roles in various cricket leagues globally.Shadab Khan brings valuable skills to the captaincy role as a leg-spinning all-rounder. His ability to contribute both as a middle-over spinner and lower-order batsman provides tactical advantages for the team, which has been struggling to find the right combination.The change in leadership reflects Pakistan Cricket Board’s focus on rebuilding the team’s strategy and improving their performance against strong opponents. The decision comes at a crucial time as Pakistan prepares for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
