Shadab Khan Poses Growing Threat To Salman Ali Agha’s Pakistan T20I Captaincy

Shadab Khan (L) & Salman Ali Agha (Source: AFP Photos)

Shadab Khan on Friday (August 21) reminded Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of why they should re-consider him to take over Pakistan’s captaincy duties in T20Is, replacing Salman Ali Agha.

Shadab, who previously played as Pakistan’s vice-captain in T20 World Cup 2021 and T20 World Cup 2022, never got an opportunity to be a full-time T20I captain for Pakistan. Instead, he got an opportunity to be Pakistan's T20I captain in six matches, only when the full-time captains were unavailable.

Salman, on the other hand, had terrible numbers at the top of the order for Pakistan for a while now. Besides, his promotion to bat at No. 3 during T20 World Cup 2026 cost the Men in Green a lot.

In addition, he is not as significant as Shadab with the ball in hand either.

Shadab Khan Shines In CPL 2026

Shadab Khan came to play for the first time in CPL 2026 on Friday. He starred with both bat and ball, conceding only 22 runs in four overs for a wicket. Moreover, he smashed 30 off just 12 deliveries, which included three sixes and two fours after coming to bat at No. 6.

Also Read: Shadab Khan Picks The Perfect T20 Player, Leaves Virat Kohli

No wonder he was named the Player of the Match, as Antigua & Barbuda Falcons chased down a challenging 188-run target with three balls and as many wickets to spare.

CPL T20

@CPL

Oh what a night! 💥 Shadab Khan gets the player of the match! 🇦🇬 x 🇰🇳 #CPL26 #ABFvSKNP #BiggestPartyInSport #CricketPlayedLouder #GuardianGroup

Aug 21, 2026, 8:46 AM

Not to forget, Shadab was one of the best performers from Pakistan in the recently-concluded Global Super League (GSL) 2026. Therefore, pressure kept on mounting on Salman Ali Agha, who could only make 21 after coming as Pakistan’s Test captain vs England for the first Test in Leeds.

Why Shadab Should Replace Salman Ali Agha Before It’s Too Late

If one looks at Shadab Khan’s numbers in T20Is, he has been doing more than a decent job with the bat and ball for a while now.

[Shadab Khan T20I Batting Stats, As Of August 21]

His economy rate has been good, a category in which Pakistan typically struggle in T20Is.

[Shadab Khan T20I Bowling Stats, As Of August 21]

On the other hand, Salman Ali Agha, ever since 2025, has not been performing at all in a consistent manner, as the number speaks for itself.

[Salman Ali Agha T20I Batting Stats, As Of August 21, 2026]

So, keeping in mind that the T20 World Cup is two years away, Pakistan, without any further delay, should build a team around Shadab Khan to get the right balance for the mega event.

Not to forget that Shadab, now 27 years old, has a good amount of experience playing in Australia, one of the T20 World Cup 2028 hosts alongside New Zealand. There, he played for four BBL teams: Brisbane Heat, Sydney Sixers, Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder.

Also Read: Investigation Launched On England Cricketer Involved In India Match