LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan T20 captain Salman Ali Agha has ruled out major changes to the national squad ahead of the upcoming World Cup, stressing that stability and consistency will remain the team’s core approach.
Speaking about team selection, Salman said the existing combination will continue, as all players have been given clearly defined roles. With six matches left before the T20 World Cup, he emphasized the importance of playing consistently and building momentum.
The captain noted that the team has been together for the past six months and has begun to deliver positive results, leaving little room for drastic changes in a short period. He also shared his long-term ambition of winning the T20 World Cup in 2026 and the ODI World Cup in 2027.
Calling both titles his “dream,” Salman said Pakistan will compete in the upcoming T20 World Cup under his leadership. He added that senior players are familiar with Sri Lankan conditions, while younger players will benefit from the Sri Lanka series ahead of the tournament.
Salman described the Sri Lanka series as crucial preparation and said it would be taken seriously. While he believes the team is moving in the right direction, he acknowledged that further improvement is still needed. He added that preparations over the past six months have been focused on the World Cup, with the remaining matches aimed at fine-tuning performance.
Highlighting the importance of fitness, Salman revealed he has played 56 international matches in the past 11 months. With a busy schedule ahead, he has decided to skip league cricket over the next few months to stay fresh.
Addressing the pressures of leadership, Salman said captaining Pakistan inevitably comes with challenges. He admitted struggling earlier but said he has now learned to balance captaincy with batting. He also clarified that he has always viewed Babar Azam as a friend, not just as a star batter.