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KARACHI: Pakistan T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha has firmly denied reports suggesting he was being considered for ODI captaincy, stating that no formal discussion regarding the role has taken place.
Speaking to reporters during the ongoing white-ball and pre-Bangladesh series camp, Salman addressed speculation around his future as captain, particularly in light of the short-lived stints of previous skippers Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Responding to a question on whether he too felt uncertain about his position, the all-rounder steered clear of commenting on past captaincy changes, instead emphasising his commitment to the current leadership role.
“It was also being said about me that I’m becoming the captain of all three formats. It was reported by you [reporters], I mean, you guys can say anything,” Agha said with a smile.
“But, until now, I’ve had no discussions regarding the ODI captaincy.
“I mean, whatever happened to the previous captains, I think I don’t need to talk about it, as it was not my concern.
“I have to think about how I can bring the best out of my team. I only do things which are better for the Pakistan team, and that is my only goal.”
The 31-year-old also spoke about the absence of the senior trio Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi from the Bangladesh T20I squad, confirming they are still part of the team’s long-term plans.
The trio is currently training with the national squad during the ongoing camp in Karachi, even though they will not feature in the upcoming three-match series in Dhaka.
“They [Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen] are all part of our core group of 25 players for the T20 World Cup,” said Salman Ali Agha.
“We need to have players who can replace anyone at any given time, and thus we are preparing our bench strength.
“As part of our future plans, we’ve shortlisted 25 players and you’ll see them rotating in the national setup up to the T20 World Cup.”
Pakistan are set to begin their T20I series against Bangladesh on July 20 in Dhaka, with matches scheduled for July 22 and 24 as well.
READ: Salman Agha explains Mohammad Nawaz’s inclusion in T20I squad
