Tag: Salman Ali Agha

Agha explains reason for promotion over Babar Azam in batting order

LAHORE: Pakistan T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha has shared the strategic reason for replacing Babar Azam at the No. 3 spot in the batting order ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

Agha took the No. 3 position from Babar Azam during the Sri Lanka series and played a blinder during the rain-hit third T20I.

The right-hander was on the verge of breaking Pakistan’s fastest fifty record, scoring 45 off just 12 balls, including three sixes and five fours.

In the first T20I against Australia played today at the Gaddafi Stadium, Salman also came to the fore when the home side lost Sahibzada Farhan for a duck on only the second ball of the innings.

The 32-year-old hit 39 from 27 deliveries, striking four sixes and a boundary.

Overall, Salman has batted at the this position in seven matches, accumulating 216 runs at a strike rate of 161.19 — a stark contrast to his overall T20 career strike rate which is 118.32.

After sealing a 22 run win over Australia in the first of three T20I matches, Agha emphasized batting and clinical bowling performance.

“It was a great game. We started well with the bat but couldn’t finish the way we wanted. It became challenging after the first ten overs as the ball stopped coming onto the bat, but I think we were outstanding with the ball,” he said.

The skipper said that he will be permanently taking up the one down position in a bid to capitalize on spin bowling with an eye on Sri Lanka conditions in T20 World Cup 2026.

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“Yes, I’ll be batting at number three. 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,” he maintained.

Pakistan were once on course of scoring 200; however Australia curtailed their innings to 168 at the end of 20 overs.

“To be honest, I felt 170 was enough. Given how we were placed after ten overs, we probably could have scored 15 more, but I knew 170 would be plenty on this pitch because our spin bowling is outstanding,” Agha said regarding the team’s total.

Salman Ali Agha also lavished praised on spinners, particularly Abrar Ahmed and expressed confidence ahead of the mega event.

“Abrar has been outstanding since his debut. Since the Asia Cup, our spin bowling has been doing really well for us; they are winning us games day in and day out. Hopefully, they can continue this form through to the World Cup,” he concluded.

READ: Saim Ayub reveals game-plan after Australia victory

Salman Ali Agha defends Babar Azam despite below-par BBL

LAHORE: Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha on Wednesday came out strongly in defence of star batter Babar Azam ahead of the national team’s three-match series against Australia, set to begin on Thursday at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Salman addressed the media in Lahore a day before the opening match of the three-game series, which will be played from January 29 to February 1 at the same venue.

During the press conference, Salman was asked whether Babar could regain form after a below-par Big Bash League (BBL) 15 campaign for Sydney Sixers, where he scored 202 runs in 11 matches, averaging 22.44 with a strike rate of 103.06.

However, the Pakistan captain dismissed the concern, stating that Babar’s performances for Pakistan matter more than what he does in the BBL, insisting the franchise cricket form should not be used to judge his value.

“I wish someday I attend a press conference and not get asked about Babar Azam,” Salman said. “You [media] need to leave him and let him play his game, and also focus on other players.”

“Look, I agree Babar did not play as per expectations in the BBL, but for us, he has been a proven performer always, so I have no issues. For me, it only matters how he plays for Pakistan. What he does in the BBL does not matter to me.”

Babar, who remains one of Pakistan’s most reliable batters in the format, played eight T20Is in 2025, scoring 206 runs at an impressive average of 34.33, including two half-centuries.

His strike rate, however, remained under scrutiny, standing at 114.44.

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Salman Ali Agha also spoke about Pakistan’s approach in home conditions, highlighting how scoring patterns change depending on pitches and match situations.

“We have scored more than 200 in these conditions as well, you can see last year’s Bangladesh series,” he said. “But when you don’t get that kind of batting condition, then scoring big becomes difficult.”

The Pakistan captain stressed that modern T20 cricket has become highly competitive, leaving no room for complacency.

“In T20 cricket, there is no big or small team,” Salman said. “In international cricket, no team is easy.”

Calling the Australia series “very important,” Salman said Pakistan would look to address the shortcomings in their game and execute roles according to conditions.

“This series against Australia is very important,” he said. “We will try to cover the gaps in our game. We all know our roles, how we have to play according to the conditions.”

Notably, the three-match T20I series will serve as crucial preparation for both teams ahead of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

READ: Jason Gillespie appointed head coach of PSL’s new Hyderabad franchise

Agha wants better death-overs execution after Sri Lanka defeat

DAMBULLA: Pakistan T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha urged the need for a better performance with the ball during the final overs after a series-levelling defeat against Sri Lanka in the third and final T20I.

Sri Lanka levelled the three-match series 1-1 after defeating Pakistan by 14 runs in the rain-hit game, which was reduced to 12 overs per side.

Set 161, here at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Pakistan fell short of the target despite Agha’s brisk 45 off just 12 balls.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Salman Ali Agha highlighted the shortcomings of the match, stating that they need to improve in some departments.

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“It was a great game. We gave away too many with the ball, but the batting was great,” he said.

“Fielding needs to be great. The way the batting unit went to it, the game could have gone either way,” he continued.

The skipper also talked about death bowling, where Pakistan leaked 51 runs in the last three overs, which shifted the momentum in Sri Lanka’s favor.

Dasun Shanaka played a blind cameo of 34 from nine, which included five sixes.

“With the ball, we need to be better in the death overs,” Salman Ali Agha concluded.

For Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasaranga delivered a match winnig spell of four overs, scalping four wickets in his three overs.

READ: Kamran Akmal slams ‘unfair’ treatment of Mustafizur Rahman

Agha wants Pakistan to improve fielding ahead of T20 World Cup

DAMBULLA: Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha opened up after his side’s victory over Sri Lanka, urging his side to be consistent in the field ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Pakistan sealed a comfortable six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the three-match T20I series opener played here at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.

The Green Shirts remained clinical throughout the match with a dominant performance with the bat and ball.

Abrar Ahmed and Salman Mirza picked up three wickets to bundle out Sri Lanka for a modest 127-run total in 19.4 overs.

The bowling effort was backed by Sahibzada Farhan’s brisk half-century, who made 51 from 36 balls as Pakistan chased down the target in 16.4 overs.

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Agha reflected on the match outcome, stating that the toss played a vital role in the team’s victory.

“I honestly wasn’t expecting dew because of the weather. It was cloudy, so I thought it wouldn’t come into play.

But looking back now, the toss turned out to be really important because a lot of dew settled in after five or six hours of play, and that made a big difference later on.” he said in the post-match presentation,” he remarked.

The skipper highlighted the team’s fielding and emphasized the upcoming fixtures and the series against Australia.

“Looking ahead, with the T20I World Cup coming up, we have a fair idea of what we want to do as a team. We still have two games here and then three at home against Australia, so we want to keep building. We know the roles we want, but we also want to try different players in those roles and see how they respond.

“Fielding is one area I really want us to improve in, and I want to see consistency there game after game, especially going into the next match,” he concluded.

READ: Farhan, bowlers power Pakistan to victory over Sri Lanka

Star-studded lineup for PSL second global roadshow revealed

LAHORE: T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha will headline the star-studded lineup of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) second global roadshow in New York, USA.

Apart from Agha, five other players, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, and Saud Shakeel, will add sparkle to the event.

The announcement came via the Pakistan Cricket Board’s website, with the event scheduled for 13 December at 4p.m.

“The New York Roadshow is part of the PCB’s global outreach strategy aimed at engaging with international investors ahead of the auction of two HBL PSL franchises, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 6 January 2026,” the board said in a press release.

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“The initiative is designed to highlight the league’s commercial strength, global following, and long-term growth potential,” it added.

The press release also mentioned inquiring about details by emailing [email protected].

 

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This will be the second PSL roadshow in a week, with the previous one held at Lord’s Cricket Ground on December 7.

Ace batter Babar Azam, former captain Wasim Akram, and opener Sahibzada Farhan, Haris Rauf, commentator Ramiz Raja, and singer Ali Zafar headlined the event.

It is pertinent to mention that PSL, which began in 2016 with five outfits, is set to expand with the addition of two new teams.

Notably, the league expanded to five teams in 2018 with the addition of Multan Sultans.

With the addition of two new teams, the league will undergo its first major restructuring in seven years, taking the total to eight teams.

READ: Pakistan Army completes century of golds in National Games

Agha opens up on ‘major changes’ ahead of T20 World Cup

Pakistan T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha has ruled out any significant changes in the team ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Speaking on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) podcast, Salman shed light on his cricketing career and team combination ahead of the mega event.

“I don’t think there will be any major changes before the World Cup. This is the combination we will continue with. The roles that we wanted for our playing XI and squad are clear, and I think you could see players in different roles,” he said.

The skipper emphasized the team’s combination over the past months, highlighting recent victories in the T20I format.

“We cannot make major changes in the next six matches because we were preparing for the past six, seven months, keeping the World Cup in mind.

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We have played with this group for six months, and the results have started to come,” he explained.

“Senior players understand Sri Lankan conditions very well, including me, because we have played a lot of cricket there. This will be an essential series for the new players. The series will be important for us, and we will take it seriously,” Salman said.

Salman Ali Agha admitted that, despite the momentum and victories, there is still room for getting better, noting that their goal is to take Pakistan to a level people hope for.

“The team is on the right track, but there is still room for improvement. We want Pakistan to reach the level where everyone hopes to see it,” he concluded.

For the unversed, the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is set to be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India. The Green Shirts will play all of its matches in Sri Lanka as per the hybrid model.

Ahead of the mega event, Pakistan will also play Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series, starting January 8 in Dambulla.

READ: Steve Smith equals Rahul Dravid’s record in Test cricket

Salman Ali Agha confident ahead of T20I Tri-Series final

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha has backed his side to shine in the T20I tri-series final against Sri Lanka.

Speaking on the eve of the final, Salman highlighted Pakistan’s performances in the past months and shed light on yesterday’s defeat against Sri Lanka.

“We are playing really good cricket throughout the tri-series, [in fact] we are playing good cricket for the past three months,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we could not finish yesterday’s game, but how we made a comeback after being four down in the power play is commendable,” Agha said while hailing the fight-back

He also mentioned the batting collapses, noting that every player is stepping up for the team, which has helped them form partnerships.

“We discuss in every meeting about batting collapses, and it’s all about taking responsibility; every individual is taking responsibility.

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Due to this, our collapses are not frequent and are not as consistent as we had in the past,” he continued.

Salman Ali Agha expressed confidence in his side and stated that they will play in the same manner as they played in the past two months at home.

“We will play the brand of cricket that we have been playing for the past two months, and I think we have to play that cricket because it is working for us.

Every final is important, and the upcoming fixtures are preparation for the T20 World Cup,” the skipper concluded.

The final will be played tomorrow at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Squads

Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Hassan Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wk), and Usman Tariq.

Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Janith Liyanage, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Asitha Fernando, Pavan Rathnayake, and Eshan Malinga.

READ: WATCH: Agha, Shanaka pose with Trophy ahead of tri-series final

Salman Agha, Shan Masood, Shoaib Malik sign up for BPL 2026 auction

Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, Test captain Shan Masood, and veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik are among the 42 Pakistan cricketers registered for the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2026 auction.

The BPL players’ auction is set for November 30, with 245 overseas players already categorised for the event.

Meanwhile, the tournament is scheduled to be played from 26 December 2025 and will conclude on 23 January 2026.

The BPL 2026 will see a reduction in teams from seven to five. Dhaka Capitals and Rangpur Riders remain, while Chattogram Royals, Rajshahi Warriors, and Sylhet Titans enter under new ownership after Chittagong Kings, Durbar Rajshahi, and Sylhet Strikers exited.

Defending champions Fortune Barishal and Khulna Tigers will not participate this season.

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The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed the participating teams but has yet to release details regarding the new ownership structures.

The auction will feature 245 overseas players across five categories, A, B, C, D, and E, from which franchises will select talent for the season.

Ahead of the auction, several players have already been directly signed by franchises.

Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed joins the newly rebranded Chattogram Royals, while opening batter Saim Ayub has been secured by Sylhet Titans, alongside Moeen Ali, Mohammad Amir, and Azmatullah Omarzai.

International stars have also been pre-signed, including England’s Alex Hales and Pakistan’s Usman Khan by Dhaka Capitals, and Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis by Noakhali Express.

Pakistan players registered for BPL 2026 auction

Category A

  • Abdul Samad – Batter
  • Zaman Khan – Bowler
  • Mohammad Hasnain – Bowler
  • Usama Mir – Bowler
  • Shoaib Malik – Allrounder
  • Shan Masood – Batter
  • Salman Ali Agha – Allrounder
  • Mohammad Wasim – Allrounder
  • Mohammad Haris – Wicketkeeper
  • Aamer Jamal – Allrounder

Category B

  • Asif Ali – Batter
  • Salman Mirza – Bowler
  • Saud Shakeel – Batter

Category C

  • Ali Raza – Bowler
  • Jahandad Khan – Allrounder
  • Haider Ali – Batter
  • Khurram Shahzad – Bowler
  • Abdullah Shafique – Batter
  • Zafar Gohar – Allrounder
  • Bilawal Bhatti – Allrounder

Category D

  • Mehran Mumtaz – Allrounder
  • Usman Qadir – Bowler
  • Mir Hamza – Bowler
  • Muhammad Ali Dazy – Bowler
  • Irfan Khan Niazi – Batter
  • Arif Yaqoob – Bowler
  • Ahmed Daniyal – Allrounder

Category E

  • Asad Raza – Bowler
  • Tayyab Abbas – Bowler
  • Ammad Butt – Allrounder
  • Ammad Alam – Batter
  • Yasir Khan – Batter
  • Muhammad Akhlaq – Wicketkeeper
  • Mohammad Zeeshan – Bowler
  • Mohammad Imran Jr – Bowler
  • Zia ul Hasan – Allrounder
  • Mamoon Imtiaz – Bowler
  • Rumman Raees – Bowler
  • Saad Baig – Wicketkeeper
  • Arafat Minhas – Allrounder
  • Tayyab Tahir – Batter
  • Salman Fayyaz – Bowler

READ: Abrar Ahmed, Saim Ayub among pre-auction picks for BPL 2026

Agha rues powerplay wickets after loss to Sri Lanka

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha lamented powerplay wickets after the loss against Sri Lanka in the sixth match of the T20I tri-series here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Set a strong 185-run target, Pakistan wobbled early in the chase, courtesy of Dushmanta Chameera’s outstanding opening spell.

However, Salman Ali Agha and Usman Khan arrested the slide and built a 56-run stand. Usman’s blitz (33 off 23) took the score to 99 in 12.2 overs before another crucial 70-run stand between Agha and Mohammad Nawaz lifted the home side’s hopes.

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Nonetheless, the equation went down to 10 from the final over, with Chameera having the ball in his hands.

The pacer bowled a superb over under pressure and gave only three, including the wicket of Faheem Ashraf, while Salman, who took a single on the second ball of the over, looked diminished at the other end.

Catch Pakistan Tri-Series news updates here

Speaking after the match, Salman highlighted the shortcomings and rued wickets upfront as the main reason behind the loss.

“Where we came from, 40 for 4 – you don’t often come back and chase it down, but we went (close),” he said.

“I think it was gettable with the dew coming in, but we lost too many wickets in the powerplay and gave away too many runs in the powerplay,” Agha explained.

He mentioned his own form, noting that he would have liked to finish the game. The right-handed batter top-scored with 63* from 44, striking three sixes and four boundaries.

“If you give too many runs in the powerplay, you’ll always be chasing the game. (On personal form) I would have been happier if I had finished the game, but it was good to spend some time out in the middle,” Agha concluded.

The final of the T20I tri-series will be played between Pakistan and Sri Lanka on Saturday, 29 November at the same venue.

READ: Babar Azam equals Umar Akmal’s unwanted T20I record

Salman Ali Agha breaks world record, surpasses Dravid, Yousuf, Dhoni

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has surpassed legends like Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, and Mohammad Yousuf to set a world record for playing the most international matches in a single calendar year.

Agha achieved the milestone during Pakistan’s 69-run victory over Zimbabwe in the T20I tri-series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Pakistan have played a total of 54 international matches in 2025 so far, the most by any team this year, with the West Indies being next–best with 45 matches.

Agha, who is Pakistan’s mainstay across formats, is the only player to feature in all of these games this year.

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Remarkably, this tally also equals Pakistan’s record for most matches in a calendar year, first set in 2013.

Agha, by featuring in 54 matches, eclipsed the previous joint record of 53 appearances held by Dravid (1999), Yousuf (2000), and Dhoni (2007).

The feat of surpassing 50 international matches in a single year is rare, first achieved by Sachin Tendulkar in 1997, and more recently by New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell, who played 51 games in 2023.

Most international matches in a calendar year

  • Salman Ali Agha (Pakistan) – 54, 2025

  • Rahul Dravid (India) – 53, 1999

  • Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan) – 53, 2000

  • MS Dhoni (India/Asia XI) – 53, 2007

  • Lance Klusener (South Africa) – 52, 2000

  • Paul Collingwood (England) – 52, 2007

  • Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka) – 52, 2014

  • Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 51, 1997

  • Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand) – 51, 2023

READ: PSB quashes lifetime ban on Arshad Nadeem’s coach Salman Butt

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