Azhar Mehmood backs Salman Ali Agha, warns against “scapegoat culture” in Pakistan Cricket

Former Pakistan cricketer and coach Azhar Mehmood has urged patience with national team captain Salman Ali Agha, cautioning against making frequent leadership changes and blaming individuals for systemic issues within Pakistan cricket.

Speaking during a television discussion with a news anchor, Azhar addressed growing speculation about potential changes in captaincy and coaching staff following the team’s recent performances. He stressed that constantly searching for a “scapegoat” would not resolve deeper structural problems.

“Now if you start looking for a scapegoat — remove the captain, remove the coach — that won’t solve anything,” Azhar said. “You have to identify where the real problems are.”

“We Are Lagging in Power-Hitting and Fitness”

Azhar candidly highlighted key areas where he believes Pakistan are falling behind modern cricketing standards.

“We are lagging in power-hitting, we are lagging in fitness,” he remarked, underlining the need to address fundamental gaps rather than reshuffling leadership.

His comments come at a time when Pakistan’s approach in white-ball cricket has faced criticism for lacking aggression and adaptability, particularly in high-pressure tournaments.

Backing for Salman Ali Agha

Azhar defended Salman Ali Agha’s tenure as captain, noting that he has only been in the role for around eight to ten months and deserves time to grow.

“He is going to get better and better,” Azhar said, recalling his experience of working with Agha during his own time in the setup. “I’ve seen him day in, day out. He was part of the ODI team when I was there for a year, and then in the Test side as well. He has a good brain.”

However, Azhar suggested that Agha may not currently be leading with full authority.

“I don’t think he is captaining according to his own standards. I feel he is being fed instructions — that you have to do these things,” he stated. “You should not accept captaincy where there is no authority.”

“The Captain Must Take a Stand”

Azhar emphasized that while feedback from coaches and management is important, the captain must ultimately take ownership of decisions on the field.

“At the end of the day, you are in charge on the field,” he advised. “Yes, you can have feedback from outside, but you have to take intense decisions in the middle.”

He added that true leadership requires taking responsibility in crucial moments and having the backing of the coaching staff and management — but not being overruled.

“The captain should take a stance. When you go into the middle, you are responsible. You get backing from the coach and from outside, but the final call on the field has to be yours.”

Azhar’s remarks have added fuel to the ongoing debate about leadership stability and structural reform within Pakistan cricket. While public scrutiny often centers on captains and coaches, his comments suggest that deeper issues — including fitness standards and modern power-hitting demands — require urgent attention.

As discussions continue around the team’s direction, Azhar’s message was clear: sustainable improvement will come not from quick fixes, but from honest assessment and long-term planning.