Mohsin Naqvi to crack whip after T20 World Cup flop: Salman Agha to lose captaincy; Babar Azam’s T20I future in peril

Mohsin Naqvi has reportedly made up his mind to remove Salman Ali Agha as T20I captain

Updated on: Mar 1, 2026, 08:37:15 IST

Edited by Aratrick Mondal

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A major shake-up is looming in Pakistan cricket following their third consecutive failure to reach the semifinals of the T20 World Cup. Although Pakistan signed off with a consolation win against Sri Lanka in their final Super 8 fixture in Pallekele on Saturday, they failed to restrict the hosts to 147 or fewer, a requirement to surpass New Zealand on net run rate, and ultimately finished third in the Group 2 standings.

Pakistan are out of the T20 World Cup 2026

According to a report by news agency PTI, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi is “unhappy” with the team’s campaign, especially after being assured by the selectors and team management that the side was well-prepared for a strong showing at the tournament.

“Naqvi is not happy at all because this time he was assured by the selectors, team management and his close aides that the team was set to do well in the World Cup,” a reliable source said.

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The report adds that Naqvi has made up his mind to remove Salman Ali Agha as T20I captain and will hold discussions with head coach Mike Hesson and the selectors regarding the future of several players, including Babar Azam.

“Salman, Babar Azam, Usman Khan and a few others could see curtains fall on their T20 international careers after the World Cup,” the source stated.

Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi are reportedly among the frontrunners to replace Salman as captain.

The source further revealed that Hesson has advised Naqvi that Pakistan must transition away from some senior players, invest in younger talent, and address the evolving demands of modern T20 cricket.

“After the World Cup, you can expect major changes in Pakistan’s T20 set-up,” the source added.

Pakistan defeated the Netherlands, USA and Namibia in the group stage, qualifying for the Super 8 as runners-up after a defeat to India. However, their opening Super 8 match against New Zealand was washed out, followed by a narrow loss to England. Despite beating Sri Lanka in their final game, Pakistan were unable to significantly boost their net run rate and bowed out of the tournament.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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