Asia Cup 2025: Shoaib Akhtar calls PAK skipper Salman Ali Agha as 'the weakest link in the team'

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has strongly criticized Salman Ali Agha’s captaincy following the team’s recent defeat to India in the ongoing Men's Asia Cup 2025. Akhtar remarked that Agha does not deserve to lead the national side, pointing out leadership flaws and placing responsibility for the loss on both Agha and head coach Mike Hesson.

In the Super Four clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, the Men in Blue registered a convincing six-wicket win, their second victory over Pakistan in the tournament. Pakistan made a promising start with the bat but faltered in the middle overs, where Shivam Dube’s tight spell derailed their momentum and restricted them to a modest total. India, in response, chased down the target comfortably, with Pakistan’s bowling effort falling well short of expectations.

"I am very surprised by the coach (Mike Hesson). As far as the captain, he doesn't know anything anyway (usko kuch pata nahi hai), what is he captaining, and what is he playing in the middle? He is the weakest link in the team. Does he deserve to play in the spot he is playing? No one will discuss this. He is the weakest link in the middle,” said Akhtar on PTV Sports.

"What does he do? Tell me? He comes in at No. 6, and for India, you have Hardik Pandya or Tilak coming in there. Compare now (karo comparison). Good boy is teek hai, fine with me, so captain is fine with me - but what does he produce as a talent?," he added. 

Akhtar also stressed that Pakistan missed a trick in their team selection, arguing that batter Hasan Nawaz should have been included in the playing XI ahead of inexperienced players. He criticized the middle order for lacking composure, noting that the team’s momentum dipped significantly after the fall of a couple of quick wickets. According to the former pacer, this collapse left Pakistan short of a competitive total against a strong Indian batting unit.

"First of all, the team selection was wrong. From 91 in 10 overs, they could have been 140 by the 15th and reached 200. The pitch was so good today. If an established player was playing at that point. Hussain Talat came and slowed down. Then Mohammad Nawaz played 19 balls and got run out,” said Akhtar.

"Second, if you had to get Saim Ayub to bowl in the powerplay, get him three overs, then you might as well have picked more fast bowlers. What are they thinking? What's the process behind team selection - that's all I want to know. I don't want to hear anything else. If someone can call me and tell me this is the reason we didn't pick," Akhtar added.

Akhtar further suggested that Pakistan’s bowlers needed a clearer plan against Indian opener Abhishek Sharma, noting that a predictable mix of short and full deliveries would never be effective. He implied that the lack of strategy reflected poorly on the leadership group, adding that questionable selections and on-field decisions have raised doubts about whether the captain merits his place in the side.

"Wrong decision not to play Hasan Nawaz, he can win matches for you. Or Mohammad Wasim Junior, another player who can win. Today in this game, with the new ball, if Hasan Ali had bowled a good length, I would see how Abhishek would have hit. At least test him (Abhishek) out na. You can't bowl two short, two full - aise toh nahi hota hai na yaar. Captain doesn't justify his place in the team and makes wrong decisions on selection - along with the coach. All blame goes to the management," the Rawalpindi Express stated. 

Danish Kaneria seconds Akhtar's thoughts

The former pacer’s remarks echoed the views of Danish Kaneria, as he too felt that Shaheen Afridi’s approach against India’s opening pair of Sharma and Shubman Gill was misguided. According to Akhtar, Pakistan’s premier fast bowler failed to apply the right strategies in the powerplay. 

"Bhai, there should have been good solid bouncers at Abhishek from both ends. The first ball should have been from a length, made him come forward, and beat him there. A batsman will get out on the front foot. Bouncers are good for fear. Definitely bowl short, but in this form and his hand-eye coordination, usko toh maarna hi tha (he had to hit). And let me tell you, that was a bad bouncer (not a well-directed one). Then you didn't try the bouncer again after that," he concluded.