Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has expressed his dissatisfaction with the appointment of Pakistan’s new T20I captain, Salman Ali Agha, and has offered his own suggestion instead. Voicing his strong opinion on the national team’s captaincy, Amir proposed a new name to lead the team as they look to change their approach from the ground up.
While Amir praised Salman Ali Agha for his contributions to the ODI and Test teams, he opined that Mohammad Haris would have been a better choice as the new leader. In a recent interview, Amir emphasized that Haris, who has captained the Pakistan Shaheens and also led the team in the Champions Cup, was more than capable of taking the reins of the national team in the T20 format. Amir’s comments come amid Pakistan’s frequently changing leadership roles in the shortest format of the game, as the team seeks stability and direction.
“Haris is captaining everywhere. He led the Pakistan Shaheens, and he also captained in the Champions Cup. Agha Salman is a very good cricketer, but if you wanted to bring in a new captain for ODIs and Tests, you should have chosen Mohammad Haris because he’s been groomed everywhere as a captain,” Amir stated.
On paper, Mohammad Haris fits the bill as the captain of Pakistan’s T20 side. Along with his experience in the role, Haris plays an attacking game that is favored in modern cricket and is also eight years younger than his new captain, Salman Agha. These three credentials make him an ideal choice for the role, despite his limited experience in the international arena.
Mohammad Amir’s endorsement of Haris adds further weight to the ongoing discussion around Pakistan’s leadership choices and the future of the team. The wicket keeper-batter will have a chance to make his case when Pakistan takes on New Zealand in five T20Is beginning later this month.