Salman Ali Agha-led Pakistan suffered their second defeat against India in two matches of Asia Cup 2025. The two teams recently collided in the Super Four of the tournament on Sunday, which India won by 7 wickets.
While Pakistan managed their highest innings score of the tournament (171) against the arch-rivals, it did not prove to be enough. The Men in Blue, led by the aggressive batting of Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, chased down the target in 18.5 overs.
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As Pakistan continues to prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup, a point of concern has emerged: Salman Ali Agha's captaincy and batting form.
Among the 31-year-old's critics is Pakistan legend Shoaib Akhtar, who questioned the Agha's credentials and poor team selection after the loss.
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Shoaib Akhtar questions Salman Agha's place in Pakistan's playing XI
After replacing the senior figures like Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam in the leadership, Agha has not particularly impressed the experts and former cricketers with what he brings to the table.
In 23 T20I matches he played in 2025 so far, Agha is Pakistan's highest run-scorer in the calendar year, with 479 runs at an average of 29.93; however, the runs came at a strike rate of just 116.82.
READ MORE: Asia Cup 2025 Super 4: Rules, format, schedule, points and teams explained
With the ball in hand, he has only bowled 10 overs across 8 innings and scalped just three wickets, a return which has drawn criticizm from legend Shoaib Akhtar.
READ MORE: India's T20I chasing record vs Pakistan
"Good boy and good captain — that is fine with me. But what he produces as a captain is a big question mark for me. That is the weakest link. On top of that, you make a wrong decision by not playing the guy who can win matches for you — Hasan Nawaz, Waseem Junior and Hasan Ali," he said at Tapmad.
"That is the weakest point — the captain does not justify his place in the team and he makes wrong decisions in team selections alongside the coach. I do not understand the methods they use to pick the XI," he emphasized.
How has Salman Agha performed in Asia Cup 2025?
Agha has managed only 40 runs at an average of 13.33 and a strike rate of 75.47 in four matches of the tournament so far. With the ball, in the solitary over from him in the tournament, he scalped a wicket and conceded 9 runs.
| Opponent | Performance | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oman | 0(1) | Dubai | Sept 12 |
| India | 3(12) | Dubai | Sept 14 |
| UAE | 20(27) & 1/9 (1) | Dubai | Sept 17 |
| India | 17*(13) | Dubai | Sept 21 |
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Asia Cup 2025: TV channel online live stream and how to watch the T20 tournament from India
Asia Cup 2025: TV channel online live stream and how to watch the T20 tournament from India
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