Salman Ali Agha's captaincy record analysed as PCB debates his future after Pakistan's failure

Salman Ali Agha during Asia Cup 2025 [Source: aFP]

Pakistan’s performance in the 2025 Asia Cup has reignited debate about Salman Ali Agha’s leadership and whether he is the right man to lead the national T20 side. Although Pakistan managed to reach the final, their overall performance and heavy defeat to India exposed deep flaws in both team strategy and captaincy.

Inside the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), reports suggest a split, one faction wants to give Agha more time to grow as a leader, while the other believes his leadership has already failed. 

The concerns are not baseless. Under Agha’s captaincy, Pakistan hav looked tactically confused and inconsistent, especially against top-tier opponents. Now, as the Men in Green are gearing up for the South Africa series, let's take a look at his captaincy stats.

Salman Ali Agha's average captaincy record: 

While his win percentage of 57% (17 wins out of 30 matches) looks decent, it hides Pakistan’s growing inconsistency.

Notably, most of those wins came against weaker teams, while the side has struggled badly against stronger nations. The team has often appeared directionless in tight games, showing a lack of planning and adaptability.

Salman Ali Agha's recent T20I poor form

A captain’s confidence often comes from his personal form, but Agha has struggled badly. In the Asia Cup, he scored only 72 runs in seven matches, averaging 12.00 with a strike rate of 80.89, a worrying statistic for a T20 batsman. 

Across his overall captaincy tenure, he has scored 557 runs in 28 innings with a strike rate of just 110, showing he hasn’t been able to lead from the front either as a batter or an all-rounder.

His bowling hasn’t helped his case either, taking only five wickets in eleven innings. These numbers suggest that Agha has not been able to perform under the added pressure of captaincy.

Salman Ali Agha's poor decision-making

In the Asia Cup, Salman Agha’s leadership flaws were most visible. Persisting with Saim Ayub as opener, despite his four ducks in seven matches, reflected poor judgment. In contrast, in-form Fakhar Zaman was initially pushed down the order instead of being utilized where he performs best.

In the final against India in Dubai, when spin was clearly dominating, Agha’s decision to hand the 15th over to Haris Rauf instead of continuing with spinners Abrar Ahmed or Saim Ayub proved costly. As in the match, Rauf leaked 17 runs and changed the momentum completely in India’s favor.

Final Verdict

Salman Ali Agha’s tenure has been marked by weak performances, poor tactics, and lack of instinctive leadership. While he may have potential as a player, his time as captain has clearly exposed his limitations.

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