Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has predicted that current captain Salman Ali Agha will not continue as Pakistan’s T20 captain after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
The comments come after a series of disappointing performances in the tournament, including Tuesday’s Super Eight loss against England at the Ballegala International Cricket Stadium.
He speaks on that day Jio News’ On the show Harna Mana Hai, Aamir questioned whether the current captaincy would last beyond the tournament and hinted that significant changes would be imminent.
“I think Salman Ali Agha will no longer be the T20 captain after this World Cup. In my opinion, no one else is fit for it at this time. As things stand, I don’t see a suitable replacement now. I believe that for many players, this T20 World Cup will be their last,” Amir said.
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif was equally forthright in his assessment, saying Babar Azam was “no longer a player of this form”.
He questioned why the right-hander was recalled to the side six months after he was dropped over concerns about his strike rate.
Latif mentioned that the team management had earlier said that Babar would return once his scoring rate improves.
“Where did it get better? Why did you bring him?” He described the decision as unfair to the board and the coaching staff.
He criticized Pakistan’s batting tempo, arguing that modern T20 cricket needs players who can shift gears and control the chase.
According to Ladeep, when a batsman consumes 20 to 25 balls without accelerating, the pressure at the other end increases, pushing the incoming players into high-risk strokes.
He insisted that set batters take responsibility and bat deep, especially when partners struggle to score freely.
Host Tabish Hashmi observed that the team had hatched a plan three years ago to dismiss Babar in a certain manner, but he continued to fall in the same fashion.
He questioned whether the responsibility lies with the player, the coaching staff or the wider organization.
Latif likened Pakistan’s approach to opposition batsmen, who move the scoreboard under pressure.
Successful batsmen can “play from both ends” and maintain control of the chase, whereas Pakistan’s batsmen often fail to accelerate at the right time, allowing the pressure to build.
Ahmed Shehzad highlighted concerns over decision-making during the innings, pointing to moments where quick singles or doubles could have eased the pressure but were not taken.
He further questioned why a player with over a decade of international experience continues to struggle against quality leg spin.
Referring to an incident against England leg-spinner Adil Rashid on Tuesday, Shejad noted that Babur almost lost his wicket with a googly.
“Is this progress?” He asked, arguing that until players admit their weaknesses and adapt to the growing demands of T20 cricket – especially power-hitting and calculated risk-taking – progress will be elusive. He described his non-acceptance as Babur’s “greatest downfall”.
Amir accepted the assessment, saying Babar had failed to read the variation correctly.