In a significant change just before the T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha has announced a new batting order for the team.
Salman Ali Agha reveals who will bat at 3 in T20 World Cup 2026
After a successful start in the series opener against Australia on January 29, Salman has claimed the No. 3 spot. This marks a shift from the previous strategy that often featured Babar Azam at that position. Salman Agha’s move aims to tackle the spin-heavy middle overs expected from Sri Lanka. Traditionally, he has played in the middle order, but he feels his aggressive approach better addresses spin bowling at the end of the Powerplay. Speaking to the media on January 30, he confirmed his new batting role:
“Yes, I’ll be batting at No. 3 in the future. We expect to face a lot of spin, and I believe I can dominate spin during the Powerplay. That’s why I moved up, and that is where I’ll stay.” Salman Agha said.
In the first T20I against Australia in Lahore, Salman quickly justified this change by scoring 39 runs from 27 balls, hitting four sixes. His strike rate at No. 3 has been impressively high, often over 160, while his overall strike rate is around 118 when batting lower in the order.
The mid-innings stabilizer for Pakistan ahead of T20 World Cup 2026
This change means Babar has now moved to No. 4. In the match against Australia, he scored 24 runs off 20 balls, focusing on stabilizing the innings as the openers took risks. This new setup allows Pakistan to create a strong opening pair with Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan, while Fakhar Zaman adds strength at No. 5.
In the match, Pakistan defended a total of 168/8 at Gaddafi Stadium, thanks to an effective spin attack, securing a 22-run win. This victory marked Pakistan’s first T20I win over Australia in 2,650 days, with Saim Ayub earning Player of the Match honors for his impressive 40 runs off 22 balls and taking two important wickets.
Pakistan’s potential top order for the T20 World Cup 2026
- No. 1 & 2: Saim Ayub & Sahibzada Farhan (Openers)
- No. 3: Salman Ali Agha (Captain & Spin Aggressor)
- No. 4: Babar Azam (Anchor/Stabilizer)
- No. 5: Fakhar Zaman (Aggressive Finisher)
