'Shadab Khan will become permanent T20I captain'

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has questioned the appointment of Salman Ali Agha as the T20I captain for the upcoming series against New Zealand.

Agha becomes Pakistan’s fourth T20I captain since January 2024, following Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan.

The announcement came as part of an inexperienced squad named for the five-match series, which is set to begin later this month.

Ali suggested that the national selectors’ move to appoint Agha as captain was a strategic decision to pave the way for Shadab Khan to take over the role if the team underperforms during the New Zealand tour.

"The selectors want to make Shadab Khan the captain. The New Zealand tour will be difficult, and then Shadab will take charge," Ali said.

Ali also expressed concerns over Agha’s suitability for the T20 format, stating, "Agha is a good player in Tests and ODIs, but he is not a T20 player."

He further criticized the selectors for what he described as favoritism in squad selections for the series, claiming the team was formed based on conflicting choices rather than merit. "A big mess has been created," Ali added.