Salman Ali Agha Archives

Agha hails Pakistan’s ‘complete performance’ after Sri Lanka win

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan T20I skipper praised his side’s all-round performance as they defeated Sri Lanka in the third fixture of the T20I Tri-Series.

The Green Shirts outplayed the Islanders by seven wickets, courtesy of clinical batting and bowling performances.

Mohammad Nawaz starred with the ball, picking up a three-wicket haul, which was backed by an explosive knock from Sahibzada Farhan.

The right-hander hit 80* off just 45 with the help of five sixes and six fours, which powered Green Shirts to a victory inside 15 overs while chasing 129.

Speaking after the match, Salman Ali Agha lauded clinical performance from his side, noting that he has the luxury of all-rounder like Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf.

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“It was a complete game, we were very good with both bat and ball. We started really well in all three departments and that’s what we look for. We had the luxury of Nawaz and Faheem as allrounders, who can bat and take wickets as well,” he said in post-match presentation.

The skipper emphasized bench strength while mentioning Mohammad Wasim Jr. for demonstrating excellent performance.

Salman also mentioned that Pakistan is close to ‘Perfect XI’ and credited Salman Mirza for becoming a front-line bowler.

“We always look for bench strength, and now we have bowlers sitting on the bench, like Wasim Jr., who can put up these kinds of performances.

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“That’s what we always wanted, having a perfect bench. Salman was a bench kind of a bowler a few series back and now he’s becoming a front line bowler as well, it is something I wanted to have but now it’s tough making a playing XI,” he maintained.

Regarding Sahibzada Farhan, he said that his batting can change the game on its head and stressed the strong bench strength.

“We always wanted to start well, and he’s someone who if he bats for three, four overs, he can bat like that. He can take the game away from any opposition. We’re very close to having a perfect playing XI, and giving chances to fringe players, who are coming in and chipping in,” he concluded.

READ: Abu Dhabi T10: Mohammad Amir stars in Quetta Qavalry’s win over UAE Bulls

“We need to be ruthless in powerplay,” says Agha after Zimbabwe win

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has urged the need to show intent in the opening six overs after his side secured a five-wicket victory against Zimbabwe.

Pakistan chased down the 148-run target in 19.2 overs, losing five wickets in the process in the opening match of the tri-series here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Fakhar Zaman and Usman Khan played a vital role after the Green Shirts were reduced to 54-4 in 9.3 overs.

The duo stitched a vital 61-run stand. Fakhar’s 32-ball 44 included two sixes and two fours, while Usman Khan’s gutsy 37 from 28 featured three fours.

Speaking in the post-match presentation, Agha emphasized a better start and hailed the spinners’ role in the team’s victory.

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“It was a close game, we didn’t start well bowling and bat, and when you don’t start well, it tends to get close,” he said.

“The spinners have been doing well for that last 4-5 months, whoever comes, and they’re the ones that put us back in the game,” Agha maintained.

He noted that the pitch was on the low-scoring side, and his side was pleased with the bowling in the second half of Zimbabwe’s innings.

“When we came last night and saw the pitch, I knew it wasn’t going to be very high scoring, lately it’s not been in Pindi. It’s a 160-180 kind of a pitch, but we bowled really well. Was very happy to chase 147,” the skipper revealed.

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Salman Ali Agha stressed the need to capitalize on the first six overs of the game.

“We need to start well, bowling or batting. The powerplay we need to be ruthless. That’s what I’m going to talk about,” he concluded.

READ: Tri-Series: Nawaz reflects on Pakistan’s victory over Zimbabwe

Salman Ali Agha soars, Babar Azam slips in ICC ODI Rankings

DUBAI: Pakistan all-rounder Salman Ali Agha has achieved a career-best ranking following his match-winning performance against Sri Lanka, while former captain Babar Azam continues to slide in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Rankings released on Wednesday.

Salman guided Pakistan to a thrilling six-run victory in the opening ODI at Rawalpindi on Tuesday with a magnificent unbeaten 105 off 87 balls.

Consequently, he jumped 14 places in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings, climbing to 16th position with 639 rating points, his highest tally to date.

Meanwhile, Saim Ayub continued his upward trajectory, rising 18 places to joint 35th, thanks to back-to-back fifties against South Africa, despite managing only six runs against Sri Lanka.

On the other hand, senior players endured mixed fortunes. Babar Azam, who scored 29 runs in the first ODI against Sri Lanka, slipped two spots to seventh.

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Meanwhile, Mohammad Rizwan fell four places to 27th after scoring just five runs, and Fakhar Zaman dropped five positions to 31st following his 55-ball 32.

Among bowlers, Haris Rauf made notable gains after his four-wicket haul against Sri Lanka, moving up three spots to 28th in the ICC Bowling Rankings.

Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed, despite not featuring in the Rawalpindi ODI, surged 18 places to 20th, courtesy of his stellar 4-27 in the series-deciding win against South Africa, his best ODI performance yet.

Skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi dropped one place to 16th, while among all-rounders, Salman Ali Agha continued his rise, climbing seven spots to 11th, making him Pakistan’s highest-ranked all-rounder in ODIs.

In the same category, Naseem Shah improved three positions to 28th, Saim Ayub jumped 12 spots to 37th, while Shaheen Afridi slipped two places to 30th.

READ: Pakistan Shaheens reach Doha for ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025

Salman Ali Agha opens up after match-winning ton against Sri Lanka

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan middle-order batter Salman Ali Agha shared his thoughts after scoring an unbeaten century that propelled Pakistan to a winning total against Sri Lanka.

Pakistan sealed a narrow six-run victory over the visitors after amassing 299-5 in their 50 overs.

In reply, Sri Lanka fought till the last over, falling short with 293-9 on the board.

Salman Ali Agha and Hussain Talat starred with the bat, both scoring the bulk of the runs and lifting their team out of trouble with a mammoth 138-run stand on the fifth wicket.

Salman remained unbeaten with 105 from just 87 deliveries, peppered with nine fours, whereas Hussain Talat’s maiden made 62 from 63, striking half a dozen fours and a six.

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For Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasaranga picked up three wickets, whereas Asitha Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana managed to scalp one apiece.

Speaking in the post-match presentation, Agha highlighted the partnership and revealed how they batted in a pressure situation.

“I just wanted to be in the present and play on the ball’s merit. That worked. The partnership with Hussain set the tone. We were in a bit of a dig, so we wanted to take the game on,” he said.

“It was not easy to bat against the new ball, but we wanted to play our shots and also take our singles and twos. The running between us was the highlight of the partnership,” Agha explained.

He emphasized Pakistan’s deep batting lineup and said they aimed to amass 100 runs in the last ten overs.

“After 35 overs, Hussain and I were set so we wanted to take the game on. We knew if we take 7-8 per over till over 40, then we have Nawaz later, and Faheem after. So we knew we can score 100 in the last ten so we wanted to take it deep,” he concluded.

The second ODI between the two sides will be played on 13 November at the same venue.

READ: Babar Azam equals Virat Kohli’s unwanted record

Salman Ali Agha lavishes praise on Saim, Mirza after thumping win

LAHORE: Pakistan T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha heaped high praise on Saim Ayub and Salman Mirza, who played vital roles in his side’s nine-wicket win over South Africa.

Pakistan T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha heaped praise on Saim Ayub and Salman Mirza, who played vital roles in his side’s nine-wicket win over South Africa.

Green Shirts defeated South Africa in the second T20I and levelled the three-match T20I series 1-1.

Speaking in the post-match presentation, Salman recalled the opening T20I and expressed confidence in the series decider.

The final T20I will be played tomorrow at the same venue.

Catch Pakistan vs South Africa news updates here!

“They outplayed us in the previous game, and we did that today. It’s beautifully set up now, and hopefully, we’ll have a cracker in the final,” he remarked.

He praised Salman Mirza, saying that the left-arm pacer has the hunger and is learning new things every day.

“We bowled really well up front. When you bowl that well early on, you’re always going to win the game. Salman [Mirza] is working very hard and learning new things every day,” said Salman.

Salman, who bagged the player of the match award, was included in place of Shaheen Afridi, who was given rest ahead of the ODI series.

The left-arm pacer took three wickets in his quota of four overs and gave away only 14 runs. His wickets upfront broke South Africa’s batting lineup, never allowing them to post a threatening total.

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The skipper also mentioned Saim Ayub, who made a brisk 71* off just 38 balls, which helped Pakistan finish the match inside 13 overs.

“He started as a backup option, but he’s becoming a frontline bowler now. Naseem bowled really well, and I’m very happy for him. Saim is someone who can play for the next ten years and become the player we all want him to be,” the skipper concluded.

READ: Salman Mirza reflects on match-winning spell against South Africa

“We just need to bat properly,” says Salman Ali Agha after loss in T20I opener

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha has urged the batters to step up after defeat against South Africa here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

South Africa outplayed Pakistan in the first T20I of the three-match series by a hefty margin of 55 runs. The home side faltered while chasing 195-run target.

For Proteas, George Lined starred with the bat and ball. He made 36 from 22 balls with the help of four boundaries and a six. The left-hander backed his batting by crucial spell of three wickets, hence earning him player of the match award.

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For Pakistan, besides Mohammad Nawaz all-round performance there was nothing much to cheer. Nawaz bowled an excellent spell of four overs, scalping three wickets which stem the visitors runs flow. He backed his bowling by an impressive batting, scoring 36 from 20 balls.

Speaking in the post match presentation, Agha highglighted the shortcoming of the match and lamented poor bowling in the opening overs.

“We didn’t start well with the ball, but we pulled things back. With the batting, we are losing wickets quickly, and we need to have a quick turnaround,” he said.

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Regarding aggressive batting approach, he stressed the need of buidling partnerships and sensible batting.

“We just need to bat properly, do singles and doubles, and build partnerships,” he continued.

The skipper noted that they can chase big total if they can bat long while admitting the vivid bowling in the first 10 overs.

“If we have partnerships we can chase such totals. We didn’t bowl well in the powerplay. Bowling top of off stump would’ve been good enough, but the positive is how we pulled it back later,” he conclulded.

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Salman Ali Agha explains Usman Khan’s inclusion in T20I squad

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has revealed the reason behind the selection of wicket-keeper batter Usman Khan in the national team for the three-match T20I series against South Africa.

The first T20I match will begin tomorrow at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Usman Khan, who averages 14.93 with the bat in 19 T20Is, last appeared in the format against New Zealand on March 26, 2025.

Speaking ahead of the opening T20I, Salman shed light on the inclusion of Usman, mentioning the batting in the middle orders. He also emphasized his record in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

“We wanted a keeper who could bat in the middle order and handle the middle overs, particularly against spin. We think that since we’re going to Sri Lanka soon, and even before that, we’ll face a lot of spin in the middle overs,” he said.

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“And you can say, you must have seen in the PSL [Pakistan Super League], his international record isn’t that great, but in the PSL, he bats really well against spin in the middle overs.”

Regarding the team’s momentum, the skipper highlighted the Asia Cup 2025 and tri-nation series, noting that they have learned valuable lessons from their mistakes.

“We’ll continue from where our journey left off. We learned a lot from the Asia Cup and the tri-nation series before that. We’ve picked up a lot from those games. We’ll try to fix the mistakes we made and work on overcoming them in the upcoming series, keeping our World Cup preparation on point,” Salman explained.

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“We need to quickly cut down on our mistakes, especially the ones that keep happening again and again, because they shouldn’t be happening,” he continued.

The 31-year-old mentioned modern-day cricket and emphasized that they do not aim for high scores, but rather evaluate the situation at hand.

“Cricket has definitely gotten faster, but as you saw, we just came back from the Asia Cup, and those pitches didn’t really favor scores of 180 or 190. We don’t blindly aim for 180 or 190; we look at the situation,” Salman concluded.

READ: ‘We can beat any side’: Salman Ali Agha confident ahead of South Africa series

‘We can beat any side’: Salman Ali Agha confident ahead of South Africa series

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha expressed confidence and said that his team is capable of beating any team ahead of the three-match series against South Africa.

The first T20I between both sides will be played tomorrow at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Speaking ahead of the series on Pakistan Cricket’s digital platform, the skipper expressed excitement about the team’s potential, with a mix of new and returning players.

Catch Pakistan vs South Africa news updates here!

“I think we have a very interesting and exciting side, with a few comebacks and a few new faces as well. I am very excited to lead this team, and we really hope to have a great series,” he said.

Salman mentioned the previous home series against Bangladesh, which they won 3-0, and hailed his team as a side that can outplay any opposition.

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“We had a great series against Bangladesh [at home], and I am hopeful for good results in the upcoming series as well,” Salman Ali Agha recalled.

“We just want to execute our plans for a longer period. As I always say, we have a great team — a team that can beat any side, ” he said.

He lavished praise on the South Africa team, noting the challenge posed by the visitors despite the absence of their ace players.

“It’s sad that [David] Miller and [Gerald] Coetzee have been injured, but in cricket that can happen, because injuries are part and parcel of the game. But the replacements are still very, very good.

They [South Africa] are a very good side, and we will have to do our best to beat them, and we will try to do that,” the skipper concluded.

READ: PCB reveals pink kit for first T20I against South Africa

Pakistan captain opens up on Saim Ayub’s participation in Asia Cup final

DUBAI: Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha has thrown his weight behind out-of-form batter Saim Ayub ahead of the blockbuster ACC Asia Cup 2025 final against India, set to be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Ayub has endured a torrid run with the bat in the tournament, scoring just 23 runs in six innings at a poor average of 3.83 and a strike rate of 85.18, including four ducks.

However, the left-hander has made up for his struggles with the bat by delivering handy contributions with the ball, taking eight wickets in five innings at an impressive average of 14.00.

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Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Salman Ali Agha acknowledged the scrutiny on Ayub’s place in the XI but insisted that the youngster deserves backing, given his all-round value and long-term potential.

“I think Saim Ayub is such a player who can serve Pakistan for the next 10 years, and I am really hoping that he does,” Agha said.

“So, it is essential to back such individuals until a situation arises where it becomes absolutely necessary to make a change.”

Catch Asia Cup 2025 news updates here!

Highlighting Ayub’s consistent efforts in the field and with the ball, the captain underlined his faith in the 24-year-old to come good with the bat when it matters most.

“You have seen his bowling and fielding, he is contributing in every game. There has not been a single match where he has not contributed,” he added.

“Yes, he could not perform with the bat, but I am fully confident that he will play one good innings in the final.”

READ: Tickets sold out for Pakistan-India Asia Cup final in Dubai

Salman Ali Agha breaks silence on handshake row ahead of Asia Cup final

DUBAI: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has finally addressed the much-debated handshake controversy ahead of Sunday’s historic Asia Cup 2025 final against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

This marks the first time in the tournament’s 41-year history that the arch-rivals will contest the final, and while the cricket has lived up to the billing, off-field controversies have dominated headlines.

The first flashpoint came in the group stage when Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake hands with Salman at the toss.

The tension lingered as Yadav, after guiding his side to victory, walked straight off the field without greeting Pakistan’s players.

Along with teammate Shivam Dube, he retreated to the dressing room, leaving Pakistan’s squad waiting in vain for the customary post-match exchange.

In protest, Salman skipped the post-match press conference, leaving head coach Mike Hesson to front the media.

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The uneasy atmosphere continued into the Super Four clash on September 21, with both teams again avoiding handshakes before and after the game.

Speaking at the pre-final press conference, Salman Ali Agha voiced his disappointment.

“I’ve been playing professional cricket since 2007, from the Under-16 level, and I had never seen anything like this until now,” he said.

“My father, who has followed cricket all his life, never mentioned such an incident either. Even in times when relations between the two countries were worse, handshakes still happened. This is not good for cricket.”

Earlier on Saturday, it was reported that the traditional pre-final trophy shoot would not take place after India declined participation. Asked about the development, Salman made it clear Pakistan would stick to protocol.

“They can do whatever they want,” he said. “We have our protocol, and we’ll follow that. If they want to come, they can come. If not, then not.”

READ: Mohsin Naqvi to pay Haris Rauf’s fine personally: sources