Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has fiercely criticised captain Salman Ali Agha after the team’s defeat to India in their Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 clash in Dubai. Akhtar, speaking on YouTube in the “Game On Hai” panel discussion, questioned Agha’s role and accused the Pakistan Cricket Board of preferring submissive leaders over strong personalities. “How can you make such senseless selections first of all? Answer me this. Justify this to me as a captain. What did you produce? Are you an inspiring captain? No, you are not,” Akhtar said. The former fast bowler argued that stronger characters aren’t preferred by the PCB. “Now the question is, why are players like this preferred? That’s what needs to be thought about. A strong player may not suit them, a strong player makes demands, a strong player challenges selections, a strong player builds others. The board doesn’t want that. The board only wants these submissive-type kids” he added. Agha has struggled for impact with the bat across the tournament. He made just 3 runs in the group-stage clash against India and followed it up with 17 not out from 13 balls in the Super Four clash, where Pakistan managed 171/5. Akhtar further said that Pakistan has been reluctant in spending money in first-class cricket. “They don’t want to work on the structure, don’t want to inject money into first-class cricket,” he said.
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The 50-year-old also added that former Pakistani skippers have been extremely inspiring to his teammates, and listed the names of Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and several others. As criticism mounts on the players and coach alike, it is up to the side to keep their hopes of playing the final alive with a win over Sri Lanka in a do or die clash in Abu Dhabi.
