Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has revealed that discussions are already underway about stripping Salman Ali Agha of the T20 captaincy following a disappointing World Cup campaign, with Shadab Khan emerging as a potential replacement.
“Shadab Khan’s name has started coming up for T20 team leadership. We wanted to make him captain earlier, but he was injured,” Malik said during a television appearance, as Agha faces mounting criticism over what many have described as poor leadership and a lack of meaningful personal contributions with the bat.
Former Test cricketer Basit Ali noted that Pakistan’s captaincy has changed hands frequently in recent years, with Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan all having led the side before Agha was handed the reins. However, Basit urged caution over handing the role to Shadab, pointing to a series loss against Afghanistan under his watch. “He led the team in that series, and we lost to a weaker side,” he noted.
🚨 SHADAB KHAN T20 CAPTAIN 🚨
– Shoaib Malik said, “Discussions are ongoing about making Shadab Khan the next T20I Captain of Pakistan.”pic.twitter.com/7tpTzrdPu7
— Rayham (@RayhamUnplugged) February 25, 2026
Former wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal was equally critical of Agha, questioning whether he was ever the right fit for the captaincy. Across 12 matches as captain in the Asia Cup and World Cup combined, Agha’s highest score has been just 32 runs, a record Akmal described as unacceptable for someone expected to lead from the front.
Sports analyst Najeeb Al-Hussain added a note of skepticism, suggesting the Shadab rumors may be a deliberate move to test public sentiment rather than a firm plan. “This time too, the news is released to see the temperature,” he said.
Shadab’s own form at the World Cup also raises questions about his readiness for leadership, having managed just five wickets in four matches at a cost of 93 runs, figures that fall well short of what would be expected from a potential captain.
