Salman Ali Agha names rising stars as future of Pakistan cricket

Pakistan’s T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has identified four young players he believes will play a key role in the future of Pakistan cricket. 

Speaking during a special Eid program on a local news channel, the 31-year-old all-rounder highlighted the talents of Hasan Nawaz, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris, and Sahibzada Farhan as players to watch in the coming years.

“I believe there are four players around whom the future of Pakistan cricket will revolve — Hasan Nawaz, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris, and Sahibzada Farhan,” Agha said. 

“These four, in my opinion, are capable of winning matches for Pakistan going forward,” he added. 

Agha’s comments come after Pakistan’s recent 3-0 ODI series win over Bangladesh in Lahore, a clean sweep that marked a strong start to his captaincy tenure. The series also gave fans a glimpse of the country's emerging talent, with Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Haris continuing their impressive form from Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 into the international stage.

During the show, Agha also opened up about his cricketing inspirations. He named legendary Pakistan batter Mohammad Yousuf as his biggest influence. 

“I used to love watching Mohammad Yousuf bat. I followed him closely. Even now, if I’m struggling, I watch his videos on YouTube,” he shared. 

He also admired former Australian captain Michael Clarke for his batting style.

Addressing the topic of team unity, Agha clarified that any differences among players are normal and should not be misunderstood. 

“There’s nothing personal between players. When you spend 10–11 months a year together, small differences are natural—just like in any family or group. There’s no politics involved,” he concluded.