Nawaz in sublime form; Shadab to replace Agha? Exploring PAK all-round options before T20 WC

Pakistan all-round options for T20 WC [Source: AFP Photo]

It won’t be an understatement to say that Mohammad Nawaz is Pakistan’s best T20I player at the moment. His rise has been rapid, and as Babar Azam said once, “Nawaz tu mera match-winner hai.” He always had the potential to shine, but the all-rounder lacked consistency. However, in 2025, Nawaz has been a different player altogether.

The year 2025 has been painstaking for Pakistan cricket as they crumbled in away T20Is vs New Zealand, lost an away series against Bangladesh and also lost three in a row vs India in the Asia Cup. However, amongst all the failures, Nawaz was Pakistan’s lone shining light.

Mohammad Nawaz shows stellar form before 2026 WC

(Mohammad Nawaz T20I stats in 2025)

• In terms of run-scoring and wicket-taking, the year 2025 has been the best for Mohammad Nawaz. He has racked up 310 runs, with a strike rate of 135, and has also taken 25 wickets with an economy of just 6.66.
• He has played the role of a finisher to perfection and has the most wickets by a player from a full-member nation in 2025 (25). Even in terms of bowling, this has been Nawaz’s best year with the ball and he has certainly evolved as an all-rounder for Pakistan.

How other all-rounders have performed as compared to Nawaz

(Other Pakistan all-rounders in 2025)

• This year, Pakistan has gone in with a plethora of all-rounders, and none of them have had better stats than Nawaz. Pakistan T20I captain, Salman Ali Agha has been a disappointment as the all-rounder has only scored 513 runs, but had a strike rate of 113.25.
• Faheem Ashraf has been good with the bat and has a higher strike rate than Nawaz, but the all-rounder has less wickets than him, and has conceded at a higher rate than the left-arm spinner.
• Out of favour, Shadab Khan has played eight T20I matches this year, and while he has a healthy strike rate, he has failed to deliver with the ball, picking up only 5 wickets at 9.45 runs per over.

Salman Ali Agha is struggling for runs and has hardly contributed for the team. His captaincy is also under the scanner and perhaps the team could replace him with Shadab Khan, who has the ability to score runs at a higher strike rate, and is also a gun fielder.

Significance of Mohammad Nawaz's rise for Pakistan

• The T20 World Cup in 2026 will take place in India and Sri Lanka, and due to the hybrid model in place, Pakistan will play all its games in Sri Lanka. Over the years, the Lankan pitches have favoured the spinners and Nawaz could turn out to be the X-factor for Pakistan.
• Pakistan need a quality spinner on those pitches, and with 25 wickets in 2025, Nawaz is the perfect man to do the job for the Men in Green. He can make the ball turn on those wickets, and can also work as the lead spinner.
• Moreover, the all-rounder has worked on his hitting abilities, and with him being an improved batter, his ability to finish off games would be crucial in Sri Lankan pitches as the Men in Green also lack a genuine finisher in the squad.

Final verdict

Nawaz had his best year in 2025, and he will carry the same confidence in the T20 World Cup next year. The question arises, who will be the other all-rounder in the side?. With such performances, Salman Ali Agha may be in the T20I squad, and he could be replaced by an out-of-favour Shadab Khan, who can score runs at a better pace than him.

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