Shadab Khan emerges as frontrunner to replace Salman Ali Agha as Pakistan T20 captain

Shadab Khan has emerged as the front-runner to replace Salman Ali Agha as Pakistan's T20 captain, with changes planned ahead of the home series against Sri Lanka starting on October 9, Pakistan Cricket Board insiders said on Wednesday.

Insiders added that Agha faces the axe from the squad for the shortest format. Shadab, 27, has appeared in 124 T20Is, 73 ODIs and 6 Tests and has captained the national T20 side on a stand-in basis previously. "Shadab Khan is the front-runner to be appointed the T20 captaincy, while Sahibzada Farhan is a close second. If Shadab is given this responsibility, Farhan will be his vice-captain," an insider informed. Sahibzada Farhan is presently in Japan for the Asian Games, leading Pakistan there.

Head coach Mike Hesson is reported to back Shadab and wants him to lead the team into the 2028 T20 World Cup. "Hesson also has shortlisted Shadab and Farhan for the captaincy role, which will no longer be with Agha." The shortlist by Hesson, according to the sources, forms the basis for the planned leadership change in the T20 squad.

Salman Ali Agha has led Pakistan in the T20 format since March, 2025. Sources cited his recent loss of form and a disappointing show in the Test series in England as reasons he is now considered a liability for the Test and T20 squads. Despite that, the insiders said he will remain a part of the ODI set-up.

Babar Azam will be given another chance to establish himself in the T20 squad but "he remains a certainty for the Test and ODI squads," the sources added. "There will be changes in the white ball squads as a number of young players will be given preference over seniors and fast bowlers, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf are also out of consideration for the Sri Lanka series," he added. The information indicates a broader reshuffle in Pakistan's white-ball selections for the upcoming home series.

The selections and leadership decisions reported by PCB insiders are set to be applied for the home series against Sri Lanka, which begins on October 9.