Newly appointed Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has firmly denied any discord with former skipper Babar Azam, emphasizing unity within the team. Addressing media in Lahore, Agha stated, “There’s absolutely no issue between me and Babar. We share a great understanding on and off the field, and these rumors are completely baseless.”

Agha’s leadership comes amid significant changes in Pakistan’s cricket setup, following a disappointing group-stage exit at the T20 World Cup, which included a loss to the USA. Consequently, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has overhauled the squad, introducing fresh talent and sidelining senior players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the T20 format.

Expressing his vision, Agha pledged to adopt a “fearless and high-risk” brand of cricket, aligning with modern T20 strategies. He remarked, “We have to focus on our intent and approach. We have to improve that. In modern day cricket these things are important. This is a young team and we want to play fearless cricket. That is high-risk cricket, which is a requirement in modern cricket. There will be failures with that approach, but we have to support our players.”

To bolster this new direction, Shadab Khan has been reinstated as vice-captain, bringing his aggressive mindset and leadership experience to the fore. Interim head coach Aaqib Javed highlighted Shadab’s return, stating, “His mindset is important because as vice-captain, with Agha also thinking that way, Shadab will be good. The combination is good.

The upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, starting March 16, will serve as a litmus test for Agha’s leadership and the team’s new approach. With major tournaments like the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup on the horizon, Pakistan aims to redefine its T20 identity under Agha’s stewardship.

While Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan remain integral to Pakistan’s ODI plans, their exclusion from the T20 squad underscores the PCB’s commitment to rejuvenating the team’s approach in the shortest format.

As Pakistan embarks on this new chapter, Agha’s emphasis on unity and progressive cricket offers a promising outlook for the team’s future endeavors.