PCB rejects Shadab’s T201 Captaincy Proposal
Interestingly, sources informed that Shadab Khan was the first choice to captain Pakistan in T20Is against New Zealand but imposed the decision was overturned by the PCB leadership who picked Salman Ali Agha as part of the lineage approach towards grooming youngsters ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Key Developments:
1. Captaincy Controversy
Whilst his leadership in PSL with Islamabad United didn’t help PC officials agree with the 23 year old who they felt was too inconsistent for squads.
Captain was given to Salman Ali Agha, a regular in other forms, and Shadab was made his deputy.
Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq, Waqar Younis, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Shoaib Malik were consulted and later distanced themselves from selection accountability in spite of Pakistan’s struggles in the Champions Trophy.
2. New Zealand Tour Fallout
Pakistan’s 1-4 series defeat highlighted struggles:
Salman Ali Agha: Top scorer (167 runs, avg. 41.75).
Shadab Khan: Underwhelmed (58 runs, 1 wicket, avg. 143).
Pakistan saved themselves from a whitewash after Hasan Nawaz’s century in their third match.
3. Ignoring advice & Having an opening pair dilemma
With Usman Khan (known to conditions in UAE and also made it clear that he was open to opening), PCB asked him to open and management ignored it and went with Imam ul Haq (10 off 26 balls).
Two fit and firing openers Usman (39 runs) and Abdullah Shafique (83-run partnership) opened successfully, but Usman’s injury has forced Pakistan to make another reshuffle.
4. PCB’s Youth-Centric Approach
Young players such as Usman Khan are criticised, but the board continues to double down on them because they are the players who fit modern T20 demands. There are, however, some concerns about long term planning due to inconsistent performances and a resistance to tactical advice.
Why It Matters:
🔹The PCB’s rejection of Shadab is a result of leadership uncertainty – disconnect between selectors and management.
🔹 Selection Conflicts: Mentors’ lack of power and ignored strategies (i.e. Usman’s opener role) compound the picture of internal frictions.
🔹 Pressure of Performance: In the wake of the T20 World Cup, Pakistan’s experimentation could backfire should the results not improve.
What’s Next?
Pakistan is looking to settle on one opening pair while mending lower order frailties as everybody’s eyes are on their coming matches. Will PCB’s decision gamble pay off its youth players or will experienced players be called in?
