Salman Comments on Squad Stability Ahead of World Cup

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s T20 captain Salman Ali Agha has shared his views on the possibility of changes in the national squad before the upcoming World Cup.

Salman Ali Agha said that he does not expect any major changes before the World Cup. The current team combination will remain, and all players have been given their roles which they will continue to follow. He emphasized the importance of maintaining consistency in the six remaining matches before the T20 World Cup.

The captain added that no significant changes can be made in these six matches since the same players have been playing together for the past six months, and positive results are starting to appear. He expressed his ambition to win both the T20 World Cup in 2026 and the ODI World Cup in 2027.

Salman Ali Agha revealed that winning both World Cups is his dream and he would be very happy if that comes true. He confirmed that the team will play the T20 World Cup under his captaincy. He also noted that senior players are familiar with the pitch conditions in Sri Lanka, and new players will benefit from the upcoming Sri Lanka series before the World Cup.

Read more: PCB Likely to Retain Salman Ali Agha as T20 Captain Until World Cup

He further stated that the series against Sri Lanka will be advantageous and the team will take it seriously. Salman believes Pakistan is on the right track but there is still room for improvement. He is confident that the team will soon reach the level where fans and players expect them to be. The team has been preparing for the T20 World Cup for the past six months, with six matches left to fine-tune their performance.

Salman Ali Agha shared that he has played 56 international matches in 11 months, which makes fitness crucial. To stay fresh, he is avoiding participation in leagues for the next three to four months, as Pakistan cricket has a busy schedule ahead.

Regarding pressure, he admitted that being Pakistan’s captain naturally comes with pressure. He experienced some difficulties initially but has now learned to manage both captaincy and batting effectively. He mentioned that he has always regarded Babar Azam as a friend and never viewed him just as a senior batsman.