Mike Hesson picks Salman Agha's replacement for Pakistan T20I captaincy. PC- AFPA lot is happening in Pakistan Cricket, as is generally the case with the Asian side. Although the drama is unfolding in the Test format, the head coach, Mike Hesson, wants changes in the T20I setup as well. Pakistan have not played a T20I since their exit from the 2026 T20 World Cup, which they played under Salman Ali Agha’s leadership. However, after the tournament, the Pakistan T20I captain himself was a letdown, as they couldn’t even make it past the Super 8 stage. And during the PSL 2026, where Salman accumulated just 112 runs in nine innings, he hinted at giving up the T20I format to concentrate on the longer formats. Meanwhile, he was among seven players the PCB sent home midway through the English Test tour. Mike Hesson backs Sahibzada Farhan to replace Salman Agha as T20I captainAs Team Pakistan prepares for the Asian Games 2026, head coach Mike Hesson has endorsed Sahibzada Farhan to take on the T20I captaincy duties full-time from Salman Ali Agha.The Kiwi coach indirectly named his choice for the next Pakistan T20I skipper, but also stated that the PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqi and the selectors will have the final say in the decision."For Sahibzada Farhan, the Asian Games are an excellent opportunity to gain captaincy experience," Mike Hesson said. "The decision regarding future captaincy will be taken by the selection committee and the PCB chairman," he added.Read More: Mohammad Rizwan Blocked From Entering In PCB's Facilities Amid Ongoing InvestigationsThe Men in Green will field a younger unit at the Asian Games 2026, with Sahibzada Farhan named captain. They will open their campaign against the winners of Pool B in the quarter-final on September 28.Different stories for Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha since 2026 T20 WCNotably, Sahibzada Farhan came into the limelight after scoring truckloads of runs in Pakistan domestic cricket, before he was unleashed in the PSL 2025 by Islamabad United, where Salman Ali Agha was also in the team. Meanwhile, Farhan shone in the 2026 T20 World Cup, breaking Virat Kohli’s long-standing record for most runs in a single edition of the ICC event. The Pakistan opener ended the tournament with 383 runs in just six innings at a strike rate of 160.25, featuring two centuries. As a result, Sahibzada, who was already a fan favourite for hitting sixes off Jasprit Bumrah, saw a rise in his stock back home, as he was also handed his ODI debut after the 2026 T20 World Cup, before eventually being named the captain of the Asian Games squad. On the contrary, Salman Agha struggled badly in the marquee event, adding just 60 runs in six outings, with just a notable contribution of 38 runs against Namibia. Although he made a comeback by scoring a century in an ODI against Bangladesh and captained Pakistan in the first Test vs England, Salman fell out of favour when the PCB axed seven players, with the right-handed batter dropped due to poor form. Pakistan aiming for podium finish under Sahibzada FarhanWith Sahibzada Farhan seen as Pakistan’s next poster boy, the 30-year-old will need to deliver and motivate his boys to step up in the Asian Games 2026.That said, Pakistan Men have won just a single medal in the history of the Asian Games, bagging the bronze in the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games. Meanwhile, they will look to finish on the podium this time around, after winning in their last three attempts. However, with teams like India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka in the mix, even a bronze medal would be a tough ask for the Men in Green. Read More: Ex-CSK Star Snubs MS Dhoni; Picks Virat Kohli As The "Best Player" He Has Played With
