COLOMBO: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha on Friday made it clear that team selection at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be based strictly on merit, stressing that no player including senior figures Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman is guaranteed a place in the Playing XI.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of Pakistan’s World Cup clash against the Netherlands, Agha said the team’s priority is to field the combination best suited to winning matches.

“We have arrived here with a 15 member squad, and we will try to play the combination that is best for the team. Even if a senior player, whether Fakhar or Babar, does not fit into the combination, we will not play them,” he said.

Agha was quick to acknowledge the contributions of the senior batters, while reiterating that decisions will be made in the team’s best interest.

“Fakhar and Babar have delivered great performances for Pakistan over the years. I fully support them, but the Playing XI will be selected purely on what is best for the team,” he added.

The Pakistan captain also expressed confidence in the squad’s preparation and mindset, insisting there is no added pressure heading into the tournament.

“Our preparation has been very good. We aim to win every match and believe we can lift the World Cup,” he said.

Agha also voiced frustration over off-field topics dominating press conferences, urging that discussions remain focused on cricket.

“Recently, there have been too many questions that have nothing to do with cricket. We are here as sportsmen and want to talk about the game. We try to stay focused and not let external factors affect us,” he noted.

Acknowledging that weather conditions in Sri Lanka could play a role, Agha said it was something beyond the team’s control.

“You cannot fight the weather or rain. What is in our control is our performance, and we will try to deliver in every match,” he said.

The captain also threw his support behind spinner Usman Tariq, whose bowling action has come under scrutiny, describing him as an X factor for Pakistan.

“I don’t understand why there is so much discussion about his action. It has already been cleared twice. Usman Tariq is an X factor for us, and we will use him whenever required,” Agha said.

Confirming his own role in the batting order, Agha said he will continue to bat at number three.

“I am performing well at number three, so there is no reason to change it,” he said.

Looking ahead to the clash against the Netherlands, the Pakistan captain stressed the importance of executing plans against teams Pakistan do not face frequently.

“We don’t play against teams like the Netherlands very often, so we need to be careful. We have played good cricket over the past six months, and now it’s about executing our plans,” Agha concluded.