NEW DELHI: Salman Ali Agha set to be relieved of the Pakistan captaincy irrespective of how the side finishes its campaign in the ongoing T20 World Cup, while a few senior players may also be appearing in their final tournament for the national team.
According to a dependable source within the Pakistan Cricket Board, chairman Mohsin Naqvi is “unhappy” with the manner in which the team’s campaign has unfolded in the marquee event.
"Naqvi is not happy at all because this time he was assured by the selectors, team management and his close aides in the board that the team was set to do well in the World Cup," the source said on Saturday.
He added that Naqvi has already decided to remove Salman as T20 captain and will hold frank discussions with head coach Mike Hesson and the selectors regarding the future of certain players.
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"Salman, Babar Azam, Usman Khan and a few others will probably see curtains on their T20 international career after the World Cup," the source said.
The names of Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi are being weighed up as possible replacements for the captaincy.
Major overhaul expected after World Cup
The source further revealed that Hesson had informed Naqvi even before the World Cup that Pakistan would need to induct and back younger players after the tournament, aligning the squad with the demands of modern T20 cricket.
"So, after the World Cup, you can expect major changes in the Pakistan T20 set-up," the source said.
Babar, who has featured in 145 T20 internationals, may well have played his last match in the format unless he produces something extraordinary against Sri Lanka and in the knockouts, should Pakistan progress further.
(With PTI Inputs)
