Salman Ali Agha Removed From Pakistan Test Squad Before 3rd Test Vs England

Salman Agha has been removed from Pakistan Test squad [Source: AFP]

Salman Ali Agha has been released from Pakistan's squad ahead of the third Test against England in Birmingham. The Pakistan captain for the first match of the series has featured only in that opening Test of the ongoing series, where he scored 4 and 21 while leading the side in the absence of Babar Azam. 

According to reports by Wagh Bakri from BBN, Agha has now been released from the squad and will return home instead of travelling with the team to Birmingham for the September 9 match.

Why Was Salman Agha Removed From Pakistan's Test Squad Amid The England Tour?

The development was reported on the evening of August 31, with no official confirmation from the Pakistan Cricket Board that Salman Ali Agha had been released to return home. No official reason has also been provided for the decision.

The development comes days after Sabba Manzer Salman, Agha's wife, shared an Instagram story highlighting concerns over child safety in Pakistan. 

“Right now the scariest thing in the world is to be raising a child/children in Pakistan. Girls or boys; predators have no preference,” Sabba wrote.

The post referred to children being vulnerable to predators in the country. Agha and Saba Manzer have a young son, although there has been no confirmation linking her post to the batter's decision to leave the England tour.

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There has also been speculation about possible political involvement as PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan's interior minister, might have taken a part in this. However, there is no official evidence that the development influenced Agha's release from the squad.

Agha's form could also be a factor, given that he scored only 25 runs in the first Test. However, all of these concerns remains speculation until any statement is released from Salman himself or the PCB.

Woeful Numbers Of Salman Agha Might Be A Primary Reason

Salman Agha's numbers in Test cricket in recent years might be one of the primary reasons why the PCB have decided to let him go. Although he has played the least number of matches in his red-ball international career, Agha's numbers have been worrisome in 2026 itself.

Since his Test debut in 2022, Agha's average had never dropped below 27 until 2026, when, after nine innings, he managed an average of only 24.56 while also registering two ducks. 

His best performances in Test cricket came in 2023, when he produced solid innings against New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Australia, with consistent scores that established him as a reliable all-rounder in the setup.

However, in recent years, Agha's batting at Nos. 5 and 6 has mostly failed to produce much of an impact, which might have further contributed to his release from the squad, despite him being the second all-rounder after Aamer Jamal in the squad.

Will Pakistan Replace Salman Agha?

There is a possibility of Pakistan calling up a replacement for Salman Agha, since the 32-year-old could also contribute with the ball. However, his exclusion from the second Test indicates that Pakistan can manage without him, even though they ultimately lost both the first and second Tests.

One of the options available to the PCB is Arafat Minhas, who could receive a call-up as an all-rounder and serve as a like-for-like replacement for Salman Agha. Saim Ayub could be another option.

However, with only one match remaining and Pakistan having already lost the series, it is unlikely that the team management will bring in another player from overseas.

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