Agha Salman Likely to Continue as T20 Captain Until 2026 World Cup
Islamabad – Pakistan’s T20 captain Agha Salman has reportedly impressed the national cricket think tank with his leadership style, significantly boosting his chances of retaining the captaincy until the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
According to sources, officials are particularly satisfied with the team’s renewed fighting spirit under Salman’s leadership. They believe the players appear more united on the field compared to the recent past.
Meanwhile, all-rounder Shadab Khan is expected to return to the squad for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour. He has been actively training at the National Cricket Academy and will have his match fitness tested during the Big Bash League.
The T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled for February–March and will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Some earlier speculations suggested that Shadab Khan or Shaheen Shah Afridi could take over the captaincy, but a senior PCB official confirmed that Agha Salman is now the leading choice for the mega event. Another official stated that Salman’s strong leadership has brought the team back on a winning track with improved unity and determination, eliminating the need for any change.
Pakistan secured the most T20 wins by a Full Member team in 2025, with 21 victories. Salman has captained 38 out of his 40 T20I appearances, scoring 671 runs at an average of 24.85 and securing 23 wins, making him Pakistan’s third most successful T20 captain after Babar Azam (48 wins) and Sarfaraz Ahmed (29 wins).
Under his leadership, Pakistan recently won a tri-nation series and reached the Asia Cup final. While Salman’s captaincy has been praised, questions remain about his consistency as a batter, although he did deliver a crucial unbeaten 63-run knock against Sri Lanka recently.
Shadab Khan, recovering from a shoulder surgery, last played during the home series against Bangladesh in June. Selectors are satisfied with his fitness levels and will further assess his performance during the Big Bash League, which begins on December 14. Pakistani players participating in the Sri Lanka series will be recalled accordingly.
