Shoaib Akhtar raises concerns about Salman Agha’s leadership after Pakistan’s second loss to India

Shoaib Akhtar has raised doubts about Salman Agha‘s place in the Pakistan team and criticised his captaincy following their heavy defeat to India in the Super 4s match of the Asia Cup 2025. Agha took over as captain after Mohammad Rizwan was dropped from the T20I side, but he has failed to produce the necessary results.

This defeat marked Pakistan’s second convincing loss to India, and Agha’s decisions have faced intense scrutiny. The exclusion of Hassan Nawaz from the lineup was baffling, with Agha coming to bat at No.6.

During an interview on Tapmad, Akhtar questioned these choices, suggesting that Nawaz at No.4 could have provided the much-needed momentum for Pakistan to post a competitive score. Reflecting on Agha’s performance, Akhtar described him as the weakest link in the team, claiming he seemed completely unsure of his role and responsibilities.

“As for the captain, it’s clear he doesn’t seem to have a solid grasp on what he’s doing, whether it’s his leadership or his own performance. That’s the most concerning part, yet no one talks about it. Does he even deserve his spot in the batting order? That’s the real question. What does he actually contribute? Look at players like Tilak and Hardik Pandya — there’s no comparison. Sure, he might be a ‘good guy’ or a ‘good captain’ in some eyes, but what tangible talent does he bring to the table? That’s the biggest uncertainty. He is the weakest link,” said Akhtar.

The former fast bowler also expressed disappointment over Pakistan’s failure to target Abhishek Sharma with more short-pitched deliveries.

“Additionally, leaving out someone like Hasan Nawaz was a mistake. He’s a player who can actually win matches for you. A genuine match-winner was overlooked. And when it comes to the new ball, if you bowled bouncers to Abhishek at the start, without giving him a chance to settle, you could have properly tested him. Two short balls, two full balls, then repeat the pattern. That’s how you challenge a batter, not the way it was done,” he added.

Akhtar further stated that Agha’s place in the team was not justified.

“Once again, the biggest issue is the captain. He doesn’t justify his position in the team, and on top of that, he makes poor decisions when it comes to team selection, alongside the coach. I just can’t understand the methods they’re using to pick the squad. All the blame, every bit of it, lies with the management,” he concluded.