Pakistan T20 captain Salman Ali Agha has confirmed that senior players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi remain an integral part of the national team’s plans for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 and the 2026 T20 World Cup. Speaking at a press conference in Karachi ahead of Pakistan’s departure for the T20I series in Bangladesh, Salman said the trio is firmly included in the 25-player core being considered for the major white-ball assignments ahead.
“Absolutely, they are certainly part of the pool,” Salman said when asked whether the senior players were still in contention for the Asia Cup and World Cup. “They have performed exceptionally well for Pakistan,” he added, putting to rest the speculation surrounding their roles after recent captaincy changes.
Pakistan is set to play three T20Is in Bangladesh from July 20 to 24, followed by a scheduled tour to the West Indies. Reports suggest that the PCB has requested Cricket West Indies to replace the ODI series with more T20Is, aligning with the board’s current focus on preparing for the T20 format. Salman stated that the team is concentrating on short-format cricket in the build-up to the Asia Cup and World Cup, given the lack of Test fixtures and the next 50-over World Cup still being more than two years away.
“You prepare for what’s ahead in the next six months,” he said. “Right now, it’s T20s. It’s not that we’re avoiding other formats, but we’ve not done enough to demand more Test series. We need results away from home.”
On Shaheen Afridi’s future in the team, Salman reaffirmed the left-arm pacer’s status as a frontline bowler despite his brief stint as captain. “He’s a world-class bowler and one of Pakistan’s best. He will definitely feature in white-ball cricket going forward.”
The captain also addressed selection consistency and recent inclusions, including the return of Mohammad Nawaz and the limited appearances of youngsters like Irfan Khan. “After Shadab’s injury, we needed a like-for-like replacement. Nawaz offers that. A temporary dip in performance doesn’t overshadow a player’s potential,” he said.
Salman downplayed speculation about his own long-term captaincy role. With questions around whether he would continue as skipper in the Asia Cup or World Cup, he said the immediate goal was to win the upcoming series and build team confidence. “I don’t think about long-term captaincy. Right now, it’s about this series and getting the best out of the squad.”
Pakistan’s preparations for the Asia Cup 2025, which is expected to be played in the UAE amid continued uncertainty, are now clearly underway, with experienced players still firmly in the mix. With less than two months left before the tournament window, the performances in Bangladesh and the Caribbean will likely influence final squad decisions.
