Follow UsFormer paceman Shoaib Akhtar has launched a scathing attack on Pakistan’s T20I captain Salman Ali Agha after yet another defeat against India in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025.
The 31-year-old has repeatedly spoken about adopting an “aggressive brand of cricket,” but his own performances have been underwhelming. Agha has managed just 40 runs in four innings at an average of 13.33 and a strike rate of 75.47 in the tournament. Overall, he has 529 runs in 29 T20Is at an average of 25.19 and a strike rate of 111.83.
Without a fixed batting slot, Agha came in at No.6 during Pakistan’s Super Four clash against India on September 21 (Sunday). He remained unbeaten on 17 off 13 balls, as Pakistan posted 171/5 in 20 overs. In reply, India cruised home with six wickets to spare, thanks to Abhishek Sharma (74 off 39) and Shubman Gill (47 off 28), who added 105 runs in just 9.5 overs for the opening wicket.
Speaking on PTV Sports, Akhtar didn’t hold back. “I am very surprised by the coach (Mike Hesson). As far as the captain, he doesn’t know anything anyways (usko kuch patha nahi hai), what is he captaining, what is he playing in the middle,” Akhtar said, as reported by the Indian Express.
“He is the weakest link of the team. Does he deserve to play in the spot he is playing? No one will discuss this. He is the weakest link in the middle. What does he do? Tell me? He comes at No.6 and for India, you have Hardik Pandya or Tilak coming there. Karo comparison.
“Good boy is teek hai, fine with me, so captain is fine with me – but what does he produce as a talent?”
Akhtar also slammed Pakistan’s team selection and batting in the final 10 overs, where they added just 80 runs after being 91/1 at the halfway stage. “First of all the team selection was wrong.
"From 91 in 10 overs, they could have been 140 by 15th and reached 200. The pitch was so good today. If an established player was playing at that point. Hussain Talat came and slowed down (he made 10 runs from 11 balls). Then Mohammad Nawaz played 19 balls (made 21 runs) and got run out.
“Second, If you had to get Saim Ayub to bowl in the powerplay, get him three overs, then you might as well have picked more fast bowlers. What are they thinking? What’s the process behind team selection – that’s all I want to know. I don’t want to hear anything else. If someone can call me and tell me this is the reason we didn’t pick.
“Wrong decision not to play Hassan Nawaz, he can win matches for you. Or Mohammad Wasim Junior, another player who can win. Today in this game, with the new ball if Hasan Ali had bowled length, I would see how Abhishek would have hit. At least test him (Abhishek) out na. You can’t bowl two short, two full - aise toh nahi hota hai na yaar. Captain doesn’t justify his place in the team and makes wrong decisions on selection - along with the coach. All blame goes to the management.”