Former fast-bowling legend Shoaib Akhtar has stressed the need to provide adequate rest to Pakistan’s leading pacers—Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah—to maintain their fitness and enhance their performance.
Speaking at the Capital Premier League (CPL) signing ceremony in Islamabad, where he participated as the chief guest and brand ambassador, Akhtar expressed concerns over Pakistan cricket’s inconsistent team selection. He questioned why players are frequently dropped and recalled, stating, “If I had players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah, they would have already become mega stars.”
While appreciating PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s efforts to improve cricket infrastructure, Akhtar suggested that Naqvi should reconsider his nine key advisers to ensure better decision-making.
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He also voiced disappointment over Pakistan’s poor performance in the Champions Trophy, comparing the declining state of Pakistan cricket to hockey, which suffered due to mismanagement and a lack of long-term planning. Akhtar urged the PCB to introduce policy reforms to bring stability and growth to the national team.
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Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently announced the appointment of Salman Ali Agha as the T20I captain and Shadab Khan as vice-captain for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, scheduled from March 16-26, 2025.
In the ODI format, Mohammad Rizwan will continue as captain, with Salman Ali Agha serving as his deputy for the three-match 50-over series from March 29 to April 5, 2025.
The PCB’s decision to appoint Salman and Shadab in leadership roles is part of its strategic preparation for two major upcoming tournaments—the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 (September 2025) and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (February/March 2026). Notably, Salman previously captained Pakistan in a T20I series against Zimbabwe, leading the team to a 2-1 series win.
