Tag: Salman Agha

COLOMBO: Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha said on Saturday that his team had been “always ready” to face India on Sunday at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, despite only being given the green light a few days ago.

The biggest and most lucrative clash in world cricket has sold out the 35,000-capacity R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, with hundreds of millions more expected to watch on television.

The game was only confirmed as going ahead late on Monday night after the Islamabad government made a U-turn on its order to boycott the blockbuster Group A game.

“This is a very big game, and the magnitude is huge,” Agha said ahead of the team’s practice at the stadium on Saturday. “We were always ready for the game, whatever the decision.”

Pakistan had a scrappy last-over three-wicket win in their first match against the Netherlands before beating the United States by 32 runs. India have also won both their matches so far.

“We are in good momentum, and I hope that being in Colombo since the start will help us in terms of conditions,” said Agha. “We have to play good cricket to win the match.”

The hugely anticipated match could be hit by bad weather, with rain forecast for Sunday evening.

Agha believed spin would dominate, calling Tariq Usman his trump card against India’s powerful batting line-up.

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“Tariq has been bowling well, and I am sure the mystery element will make him our trump card,” Agha said, brushing aside doubts over the legality of Tariq’s unique sling-arm action and the exaggerated pause in his delivery stride.

“He has been cleared twice, so there are no worries.”

Salman Ali Agha hoped the players would shake hands, unlike during their three Asia Cup matches in Dubai last year.

“The game should be played in the true spirit of the game,”  said Agha. “It has been the norm in cricket for years, but whatever way they want, we will only know tomorrow.”

The winner will be guaranteed of thier berth in the next Super Eights round.

India have a doubt over explosive opener Abhishek Sharma, who has been suffering with a stomach bug.

“I hope he plays tomorrow. I hope he’s recovering well,” said Agha. “We want to play against the best, good luck to him.”

READ: Salman Agha wishes Abhishek Sharma well ahead of India-Pakistan clash

KARACHI: Fakhar Zaman and Hasan Nawaz starred as Saim Ayub XI outplayed Salman Agha XI by seven wickets in an intra-squad practice match here on Friday.

The match was held at the National Bank Stadium during Pakistan’s third day of training camp in preparation for the upcoming three-match series against Bangladesh.

Salman Agha XI scored 183-8 while batting first, with Hussain Talat top-scoring with 40. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who are not part of the T20I squad, scored 33 and 24 runs respectively, while Salman Agha scored 32

For Saim Ayub XI, pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and all-rounder Mohammad Wasim Jnr picked up two wickets each. Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed also scalped one wicket.

In reply, Saim Ayub XI successfully chased the 184-run target, losing only three wickets in the process. Fakhar Zaman (51) and Saim Ayub (34) showed good form, while middle-order batter Hasan Nawaz contributed with a solid 57 runs. Mohammad Haris also chipped in with 25 runs.

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For Salman Agha XI, Sufiyan Moqim scalped two wickets and Khushdil Shah took one wicket.

It is noteworthy to mention that, apart from the squad members, five additional players are also part of the training camp. These players include Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Wasim Jr.

The 15-member Pakistan squad is training for a week before departing for Bangladesh on 16 July.

After wrapping up the Bangladesh tour, the Green Shirts will travel to the United States of America (USA) to face the West Indies in a three-match T20I series in Florida, set to take place from August 1 to 4.

Both sides will then head to Trinidad and Tobago for a three-match ODI series scheduled between August 8 and 12.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to announce the final T20I and ODI squads for both assignments in the coming days.

Pakistan squad for Bangladesh series:

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Moqim

Pakistan-Bangladesh T20I Series Schedule 

20 July – First T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)

22 July – Second T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)

24 July – Third T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)

READ: Italy creates history, qualifies for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for first time