Cricket, they say, is a game of fine margins. One wrong decision can turn the tide, and unfortunately for Pakistan, it seems like their stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha may have learned this the hard way.
Thursday’s final T20I against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club had all the drama fans love. Pakistan was defending a modest 133, and despite a shaky start, the bowlers clawed back brilliantly in the middle overs. By the end of the 19th, Zimbabwe was reeling at 121/7, needing 12 runs from the last six balls.
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Victory felt tantalizingly close. But then came a captaincy call that left fans and former cricketers scratching their heads.
A Gamble That Didn’t Pay Off
Instead of handing the ball to Mohammad Hasnain, one of Pakistan’s more experienced bowlers, Agha chose young all-rounder Jahandad Khan to bowl the final over. On paper, it might have seemed like a bold move—a show of faith in the youngster.
In reality? It backfired.
Jahandad, visibly under pressure, conceded a four and a six on the first two balls. And just like that, Zimbabwe snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
Junaid Khan’s No-Nonsense Take
Former Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan didn’t hold back. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he called out Agha’s decision-making, labeling it as “poor captaincy.”
“Poor captaincy, if Hasnain had overs left, he should’ve bowled the last over as he is more experienced rather than giving it to a youngster,” Junaid Khan wrote.
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And honestly, it’s hard to argue with him. Hasnain’s experience in high-pressure situations could have made all the difference. Instead, the burden fell on Jahandad, who couldn’t handle the heat.
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