NEW DELHI: Pakistan's T20I captain Salman Ali Agha is contemplating a break from the shortest format of international cricket to focus on the upcoming ODI World Cup and the World Test Championship cycle. With a career spanning 23 Tests, 50 ODIs, and 52 T20Is, Agha has declared that the 50-over World Cup remains his primary focus.

"The World Cup is a long way to go, but yes, one has to think about managing one’s schedule and workload. If I feel it (break) can help me in preparing for the World Cup and Tests, I will do it," Agha said during a post-match press conference.

The ODI World Cup is scheduled to take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in October-November 2025. Australia will enter as defending champions after defeating India in the 2023 final in Barbados. Agha’s potential step back from T20Is reflects a growing trend among senior players to prioritize red-ball and 50-over cricket as they manage career longevity and strategic goals.

Agha’s T20I form has come under scrutiny, especially after a string of inconsistent performances during his captaincy tenure. Despite leading Pakistan in the recently concluded T20 World Cup, where he batted at number three, he failed to anchor the innings as the team exited in the group stage, missing out on a semifinal berth. Critics have questioned his ability to balance captaincy with batting responsibilities in the high-pressure tournament.

Speaking on player development, Agha emphasized the importance of proper nurturing through domestic cricket. While acknowledging the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as a crucial platform for discovering young talent, he cautioned against fast-tracking players into the national team based solely on franchise performances.

"I would rather like to see a process where we identify strong young talent in the PSL and send them to play in domestic cricket and then review their performances and decide if they are ready for international cricket," Agha stated, pointing to past instances where PSL stars failed to replicate their brilliance at the international level.

His comments underline a broader concern within Pakistan cricket about sustainable talent pipelines and the need for structured progression pathways. As the team looks to rebuild and refocus ahead of major global tournaments, Agha’s leadership decisions—both on and off the field—are likely to shape Pakistan’s cricketing direction in the coming years.