Tag: Salman Ali Agha

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Catch Pakistan Tri-Series news updates here

“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.

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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.

Catch Pakistan Tri-Series news updates here

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

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

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.

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

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