Salman Ali Agha in line to become all-format captain
Besides the change in captaincy, the board will also be announcing the formation of an 'observatory' committee after Eid holidays, a concept meant to keep a close watch on cricket developments including in the national team and forward recommendations to the board's chairman.
Karachi, Jun 8 (PTI) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to make some sweeping changes in its national team set-up with Salman Ali Agha in line to become all-format captain, replacing Shan Masood as the skipper of the Test side.
'The two were informed about the decision to form the observatory committee and offered positions on it,' the source said.
'Some other players will also be on this committee.' He said PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, after discussions with his close aides including new white ball head coach Mike Hesson, is also considering redefining the role of the national selection committee.
'Either there will be changes in the current selection committee which would continue to work with the Pakistan team management or a new selection set-up would be announced with prime focus on looking and finding talent from domestic and age group cricket,' the source said.
Naqvi, the source added, wanted to see things move forward with the right people in the right positions and with the coach and captain given powers to select the teams.
There is also a move to give more responsibility to Salman Ali Agha who is currently the national T20 captain and the board is contemplating replacing Shan Masood as the Test skipper when they announce the new head coach of the red ball format.
Pakistan's next Test assignment, which is their first in the ICC World Test Championship new cycle, will be a two-match home series against South Africa later this year.
Pakistan is slated to play just five Tests this calendar year. PTI Cor AH AH
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Going into Oval Test, we will be high on confidence: India head coach Gambhir
Gambhir did not give any clarity on Bumrah's availability for the last Test starting at the Oval on July 31. He said no decision has been made in this regard yet. Speaking on Shubman Gill and his growth as a batter during the ongoing series, he said, "First of all, no one has any doubt on Shubman's talent. Those who had a doubt, they only know how to talk about cricket, not understand it. Because some people take time to blossom in international cricket. And there is no surprise in this dressing room that Shubman has done on this tour. And honestly, even if he hadn't done it, no one had a doubt on his talent. Because those who understand cricket, they know what kind of talent Shubman possess. And the important thing is that he is living up to his expectations, his own talent, and more importantly, the pressure of the captaincy, the burden and pressure of the captaincy. I think you can't see anything of that sort when he goes in bat. Because when he goes into bat, he goes as a batter, not as a captain." Gambhir reiterated that he believes in the team is 1-2 down in the series and will try to make it 2-2 in the last match. He also confirmed that injured wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the series due to the right broken foot adding further that all pacers are fit to play. "Rishabh, already it's been declared that he's out of the series. And one thing I want to say is that the character and the foundation of this team will be built on something Rishabh did for the team and for the country as well. Any amount of praise is not enough for him. Especially batting with a broken foot. Not many people have done that in the past. And he has put his hand up. And that is why I say, any amount of praise, I can sit here and talk about this for hours and hours. I think the generations to come will talk about this. And it should talk about it that there is someone who has batted with a broken foot. It's unfortunate because of the kind of form he was in. But again, he's an important member of the Test side and I hope he recovers quickly and comes back quickly and tries and delivers again for us. Also all the fast bowlers are fit. There is no injury scare." He said the draw here in Manchester will give the team a psychological edge over their opponents going into the last match of the series. "It will give an edge because when you see, when you're put under the pressure, when you're put under the pump and you end up playing five sessions, I think that's a great character. And anything that you do in these conditions, when you're put under pressure and you come out of those pressure moments, it is always a great feeling. And it just ends up giving a lot of confidence in the dressing room as well. And I'm sure, I think going into the Oval, I think we will be high on confidence. But we can't take anything for granted. I think it's going to be a new game. It's going to be against a strong England side and we absolutely will be up for it.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
This team will make its own history: Gautam Gambhir
Agency: PTI Manchester, Jul 27 (PTI) Gautam Gambhir wants his players to make their own history rather than following anyone from the past including the India head coach himself. And, after a memorable comeback in the Manchester Test, they are moving in that direction. A 188-run stand between captain Shubman Gill and K L Rahul kept India in the fourth Test against England before Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja earned a spirited draw for the visitors with an unbeaten 203-run alliance. Asked whether Gambhir gave a pep talk to the players after day four and made a reference to his match-saving 137 in Napier back in 2009, Gambhir responded in the negative. 'Look, the first thing is that I don't remember any of my knocks, that has become history. I think they should make their own history. Honestly, no one in this team will follow anyone or want to follow. They should make their own history. 'They want to fight for the common man back home. And the important thing is that the way a lot of people had written us off in this Test match, this is the foundation of this team. 'These are characters who are sitting in this dressing room, wanting to fight for the country and they will continue to do that," said the head coach. Managing a draw from the brink of defeat would give India a psychological edge over the hosts in the fifth and final Test in London, felt Gambhir. 'It will. Because when you see, when you're put under the pressure, when you're put under the pump and you end up adding five sessions, I think that's a great character. And anything that you do in these conditions, when you're put under pressure and you come out of those pressure moments, it is always a great feeling. 'And it just ends up giving a lot of confidence in the dressing room as well. And I'm sure, I think going into Oval, I think we will be high on confidence, but we can't take anything for granted," he said. Under new captain Gill, the team is going through a transition but Gambhir doesn't see it that way. Considering the inexperience in the side, the squad has done well especially Gill who racked up his fourth hundred of the series on Sunday. 'Good you used that word transition but I don't see it like that because it is still an Indian team. This is the best 18 that is going to represent. It is only experience and inexperience. 'And that is how we see this. But the most important thing is that these guys got to learn a lot from what they did today. 'Because being under pressure, batting five sessions is never easy on day five of the Test against an attack like England. And then coming out with a draw and only losing four wickets…," he said. PTI BS AH view comments First Published: July 28, 2025, 01:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
'Sport must go on': Sourav Ganguly's bold stand on India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 clash
Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly paid heed to the sensitive topic of whether India and Pakistan should engage in cricketing action, and gave a bold opinion. read more Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has weighed in on the sensitive topic of whether India and Pakistan should engage in cricketing action. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, public sentiment has called for a complete boycott of Pakistan, and the general consensus is against playing cricket matches against the nation. However, Ganguly offers a different perspective, suggesting that sports and politics should be kept separate. Ganguly on Sunday said he has no issues with India and Pakistan being placed in the same group of the upcoming , asserting that while terrorism must end, sport must continue. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sourav Ganguly on scheduled IND vs PAK clash in Asia Cup As per the schedule, arch-rivals India and Pakistan are clubbed in Group A and are set to collide at the Dubai International Stadium on September 14. 'I'm okay with the schedule. Sport must continue. What happened in Pahalgam should never happen, but we can't let that stop the game. Terrorism must end. India has taken a firm stand against it, it's in the past now. Sport must go on,' Ganguly told PTI. The T20 tournament will take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to 28. Team India will begin its campaign against UAE on September 10 and may play all their matches in Dubai. As both India and Pakistan are expected to go past the group stage, there is a chance that the two nations will clash again in the tournament, this time in the Super Four stage on September 21. Group A comprises India, Pakistan, UAE and Oman, while Group B includes Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) will give teams the provision of combining 17-member squads for the 19-match tournament, with matches scheduled in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. While the BCCI is the official host, the tournament will be held in UAE as India and Pakistan have agreed to play only at neutral venues till 2027 due to ongoing cross-border tensions.
