KARACHI – Pakistan’s white-ball cricket setup is set for major changes, with significant reshuffling expected in the T20 squad and leadership ahead of the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, according to sources.
T20 captain Salman Ali Agha is reportedly set to lose the captaincy and has also been dropped from the T20 squad. After being left out of the Test side, Salman is now expected to feature only in Pakistan’s ODI squad.
Sources said Sahibzada Farhan and Shadab Khan are currently the leading candidates for the T20 captaincy. The Pakistan Cricket Board is expected to finalise the new leadership structure before the national team’s upcoming assignments.
Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi is also reportedly set to be excluded from the T20 squad. The development comes after Haris Rauf was also dropped from the T20 setup.
Shaheen, however, is expected to retain the ODI captaincy and continue leading Pakistan in the 50-over format. Despite his reported exclusion from the T20 squad, he remains an important part of the ODI setup.
Shaheen has taken 136 wickets for Pakistan across formats, while Haris Rauf has claimed 133 international wickets.
Razaullah, who impressed with his performance in the Edgbaston Test, is also emerging as a strong candidate for selection in both the T20 and ODI squads. His recent form has strengthened his prospects of earning a place in Pakistan’s white-ball teams.
Test captain Babar Azam is expected to remain part of both the T20 and ODI squads despite the leadership changes.
Pakistan’s immediate T20 assignment will be a three-match series against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. The matches are scheduled to be played on October 9, 11 and 13.
The national team will then feature in a three-nation ODI tournament involving hosts Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi and Lahore from October 18 to 31.
The expected changes come as Pakistan prepares to reshape its white-ball combination ahead of its upcoming international commitments.
