Tag: Salman Ali Agha

WELLINGTON: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha expressed his thoughts after a crushing defeat against New Zealand in the final match of the five-match T20I series here at Sky Stadium on Wednesday.

New Zealand successfully chased down a paltry 129-run target in 10 overs after losing two wickets to win the series 4-1.

Seifert led New Zealand’s charge with the bat, smashing 97 runs from 38 balls, which featured ten sixes and six boundaries.

While speaking in a post-match press conference, Agha highlighted the series’ positives and shortcomings, expressing confidence in the young players’ performance in the upcoming series.

“We had some positives. Our side’s ultimate focus is Asia Cup and World Cup, ” he said.

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The skipper commented on challenging conditions in New Zealand, noting that any Asian team that comes here faces difficulties.

“Obviously, the conditions here are not easy. We have seen that Asian team have faced difficulties in New Zealand,” said Agha.

Salman Ali Agha expressed confidence in the young batters’ ability to perform well in the upcoming series despite their poor outings in the previous matches.

“We have exciting youngsters, and when they will have experience, they will perform.”

“I am hopeful that these players will perform in the next series. They have a lot of potential. ” he added.

While reflecting on his own performance, the skipper stated that his performance doesn’t matter if the team loses.

“I can’t talk much about it. If my team loses, my performance doesn’t matter, ” he stated.

The 31-year-old batter remained firm about the Men in Green’s chances in the upcoming ODI series, emphasizing the experience in the 50-over squad.

“It’s a completely different team in the ODIs. Babar, Rizwan and Imam have played in New Zealand before. It will be a different ball game,” he concluded.

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AUCKLAND: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has reflected on his team’s thumping nine-wicket victory over New Zealand in the third T20I of the five-match series at Eden Park on Friday.

Pakistan opted to field first after winning the toss and bundled New Zealand for 204 despite a quick-fire knock of 94 runs by Mark Chapman.

In response, the Green Shirts chased the target in 16 overs, courtesy of Hasan Nawaz’s unbeaten century as well as captain Salman’s unbeaten half-century and Mohammad Haris’ 41.

Pakistan’s skipper praised his team-mates while emphasising the need to back youngsters to get out the best performance from them.

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“Outstanding performance. A proper game we played, the bowlers started really well and then the two youngsters batted really well,” he said after the match.

“If you back the youngsters, they will do well like today. 200 is a par score on this wicket, and I just said to the guys we can chase this down if you bat well.”

Salman Ali Agha also acknowledged the importance of this match to keep the series alive, having suffered back-to-back losses in the first two games.

“It was do or die and we just wanted to go out and enjoy ourselves today. Looking forward to the next game as well,” he added.

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DUNEDIN: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha acknowledged his team’s improvement in the second T20I against New Zealand but admitted that key areas still need work following a five-wicket defeat at University Oval here on Tuesday.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Agha noted that despite falling 2-0 behind in the series, there were positives to take from the game, particularly in the batting and fielding departments.

“It was freezing. But compared to the last game, this was a much better performance. We batted well, and our fielding was outstanding. The bowling had its moments too, but we need to adjust to the different bounce here,” Agha remarked.

Pakistan’s bowling struggled early on, as New Zealand’s openers ran riot during the powerplay. However, the skipper credited Haris Rauf and the rest of the attack for pulling things back later in the innings.

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“After the powerplay, we bowled well, and Haris was exceptional. But as a unit, we need to be better in the powerplay—both while bowling and batting,” he added.

After a crushing nine-wicket loss in the first T20I, Pakistan failed to defend 135 runs in the rain-affected second match, which was reduced to 15 overs per side. With the series now slipping away, Salman Ali Agha and his men have a lot to address before the third T20I.

It’s worth noting that the third T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played in Auckland on March 21, while the final two matches are scheduled in Mount Maunganui and Wellington on March 23 and 26, respectively.

Following the conclusion of the T20I series, the two sides will face off in a three-match ODI series. The first ODI is set for March 29 in Napier, followed by the second on April 2 in Hamilton, while Mount Maunganui will host the third and final match on April 5.

READ: Khushdil Shah fined for ICC Code of Conduct breach

CHRISTCHURCH: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha highlighted the team’s shortcomings after crushing nine-wicket defeat against New Zealand in the first T20I at Hagley Oval on Sunday.

In a post-match conference, Agha admitted that his team was not up to mark in the five-match series opener against a well-disciplined New Zealand team.

“It was difficult, we weren’t up to the mark, but we need to regather (ahead of Dunedin),” he remarked.

“They bowled really well, in great areas, there was a bit of seam movement as well. We will sit down, have a chat and think about the next game, ” he said.

Salman Ali Agha highlighted the performances of three debutants and expressed confidence in their potential for upcoming matches.

“We had three debutants, the more games they play, they’ll learn more.”

“The new ball does a bit in New Zealand, we’ve good bowlers and we’ll look to do well in the next match,” he concluded.

After being asked to bat first in the series opener, Pakistan team struggled against a disciplined New Zealand bowling attack and were bundled out for 91, with Kyle Jamieson leading the charge by picking up crucial wickets.

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The Men in Green encountered early trouble, losing three wickets for just one run. Kyle Jamieson caused havoc with the ball, claiming three wickets early on.

Pakistan’s batting lineup collapsed, getting dismissed for just 91 runs in 18.4 overs.

Khushdil Shah was the top scorer with 32 runs, followed by captain Agha Salman with 18 and Jahandad Khan with 17.

Abdul Samad scored 7, Shadab Khan managed 3, while Abrar Ahmed added only 2 runs. Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mohammad Ali contributed just 1 run each. Openers Mohammad Haris and Hassan Nawaz were dismissed without scoring.

New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy led the bowling attack with 4 wickets, while Kyle Jamieson claimed 3 and Ish Sodhi grabbed 2 wickets. Zakary Foulkes dismissed one player.

Chasing 91, Tim Seifert and Finn Allen displayed exceptional batting from the start, putting on a 53-run stand inside the powerplay, showcasing their brilliance with the bat.

New Zealand chased down the target in the 11th over, giving them a 1-0 lead in the series.

READ: New Zealand beat Pakistan by nine wickets in first T20I

Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has thrown his support behind senior pacers Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, emphasizing their importance in the team’s quest for success in the five-match series against New Zealand, scheduled to commence tomorrow.

Shaheen and Haris have been under fire lately due to their below-par performances in Pakistan’s disastrous ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign.

Consequently, they lost their place in the ODI squad for New Zealand, however, they were named in the T20I squad.

Salman Ali Agha, during the press conference ahead of the first T20I in Christchurch, acknowledged the recent form fluctuations of the experienced duo but remained confident in their ability to step up for Pakistan.

“Shaheen and Haris have been outstanding bowlers for Pakistan. Yes, form and performances go up and down in every cricketer’s career, but I believe both of them have a key role to play in this series,” he stated.

The 31-year-old, leading a relatively young squad, emphasized that the team is not in New Zealand just to experiment but to win.

“Fans are disappointed because we haven’t played the kind of cricket they expect from us. In fact, we haven’t even played the way we expect from ourselves. But just because we have a young side doesn’t mean it’s not a strong one. We are here to win,” Salman asserted.

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Pakistan’s squad for the series has seen some significant changes, with several senior players being rested.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who have been key to Pakistan’s T20I setup for years, are not part of the squad as the selectors aim to test new combinations. Salman admitted that their absence is notable but stressed the importance of looking forward.

“There is no doubt that Babar and Rizwan have been exceptional for Pakistan, but for this series, we are trying to build a new combination,” he added.

“Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub will also be missed—they are match-winners on their day. But, Alhamdulillah, their injury progress is positive, and hopefully, they will return for the next series.”

The Pakistan captain further explained that the team is focused on long-term goals, including the Asia Cup 2025 and the T20 World Cup 2026.

“This series, and the ones coming up, are all part of our preparation for these major tournaments. We want to form a strong squad that can compete at the highest level in the coming years,” Salman remarked.

Pakistan T20I squad for New Zealand tour

T20Is: Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan (wk)

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LAHORE: Salman Ali Agha, the new captain of Pakistan for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, has vowed to adopt a ‘fearless and high-risk’ style of cricket.

Agha, who became the fourth different T20I captain for Pakistan since January 2024, has promised to play a fearless style of cricket.

The new skipper recognized the duty as a ‘challenge’ and outlined his intention to adapt his game to fit the demands of modern day cricket.

“It’s an honour for me and also a challenge. We’ve brought a few youngsters into the team who have been playing the domestic cricket brand that we want to play on the national side going forward,” he remarked.

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“We have to focus on our intent and approach. We have to improve that. In modern-day cricket these things are important.This is a young team and we want to play fearless cricket.”

He also cautioned that there would be setbacks throughout the transition phase and encouraged fans to stand by them.

“That is high-risk cricket, which is a requirement in modern cricket. There will be failures with that approach, but we have to support our players,” the skipper said.

The series between Pakistan and New Zealand will run from 16 March 16 to 5 April, featuring five T20Is and three ODIs. The T20I series will kick off in Christchurch on 16 March, while the second match is scheduled to be played in Dunedin on 18 March.

The third match will be played in Auckland on 21 March, while the subsequent games are scheduled in Mount Maunganui and Wellington on 23 and 26 March, respectively.

Following the T20I series, the teams will travel to Napier for the first ODI, scheduled for 29 March. The second ODI will be played on 2 April in Hamilton, while Mount Maunganui will host the final ODI on 5 April.

Pakistan T20I squad for New Zealand tour

T20Is: Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan (wk)

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LAHORE: Salman Ali Agha has been named the T20I captain as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced two separate white-ball squads for the upcoming tour of New Zealand on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, returning all-rounder Shadab Khan will serve as vice-captain for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand from 16-26 March.

“The decision to appoint Salman and Shadab as T20I captain and vice-captain, respectively, has been made with an eye on two major upcoming tournaments – the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 (September 2025) and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (February/March 2026),” the PCB stated in a press release.

“As part of preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan is set to play a minimum of five T20Is in the ACC Asia Cup 2025 and three T20Is each against West Indies (away, July), Afghanistan (home, August), Ireland (home, September), South Africa (home, September/October), Sri Lanka (home, November) and Australia (home, January 2026).”

Meanwhile, Mohammad Rizwan will continue as ODI captain, with Salman serving as his deputy for the three 50-over matches scheduled at the backend of the tour from 29 March to 5 April.

In the T20I squad, there are three uncapped players – Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Ali – while Akif Javed and Mohammad Ali are the two players who have yet to debut in ODIs.

The four players have been rewarded for their impressive performances in the Champions One-Day and T20 Cups.

In the Champions T20 Cup, Abdul Samad scored 115 runs at a strike-rate of 166.67 after aggregating 145 runs at a strike-rate of 122.88 in the Champions One-Day Cup.

Likewise, Hasan Nawaz had a staller Champions T20 Cup, finishing as the second leading run-getter with 312 runs at a strike-rate of 142.47.

Mohammad Ali, with 22 wickets, was the leading wicket-taker in the Champions T20 Cup, while he took three wickets in the Champions One-Day Cup.

Akif Javed has been selected in the ODI side after his seven wickets in five Champions One-Day Cup matches, while he took 15 wickets in the Champions T20 Cup.

Openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub were not considered for either format on medical advice.

Fakhar suffered a left lower intercostal muscle sprain during Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against New Zealand, while Saim is recovering from a right ankle fracture sustained on the first day of the Cape Town Test against South Africa in January.

The series between Pakistan and New Zealand will run from 16 March 16 to 5 April, featuring five T20Is and three ODIs. The T20I series will kick off in Christchurch on 16 March, while the second match is scheduled to be played in Dunedin on 18 March.

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The third match will be played in Auckland on 21 March, while the subsequent games are scheduled in Mount Maunganui and Wellington on 23 and 26 March, respectively.

Following the T20I series, the teams will travel to Napier for the first ODI, scheduled for 29 March. The second ODI will be played on 2 April in Hamilton, while Mount Maunganui will host the final ODI on 5 April.

Pakistan squads for New Zealand tour

ODIs: Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr., Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir.

T20Is: Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan (wk)

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Former India spinner Piyush Chawla has identified middle-order batter Salman Ali Agha as the biggest weapon of Pakistan against the Men in Blue ahead of their much-awaited ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash.

Speaking in a recent interview, Chawla highlighted Salman Agha’s attacking approach, which was on full display during Pakistan’s record-breaking run chase against South Africa in the recently concluded tri-nation ODI series.

The right-hander also played a crucial role in Pakistan’s opening game of the Champions Trophy, scoring a brisk 42 off 28 balls against New Zealand under pressure in Karachi.

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“The biggest threat from the Pakistan team is Salman Ali Agha because he’s the kind of player who can change the course of a game on his day,” Piyush Chawla said.

“He’s an attacking batsman, and we have seen what he is capable of. When Pakistan was chasing 350-odd runs against South Africa, the kind of hundred he got was remarkable.

“He’s an aggressive player who can turn the game around.”

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However, Piyush Chawla backed India to have the upper hand in the much-anticipated fixture, citing their strong record against Pakistan in ICC events and their recent form.

“Based on form, India has the edge because, in ICC tournaments, especially in the one-day format, India has performed well against Pakistan,” he noted.

“Pakistan does have a slight advantage in the Champions Trophy, but looking at the current form—the way the Indian team is playing and how Pakistan struggled against New Zealand—India has a better chance.”

READ: Former Australian great predicts winner of Pakistan-India Champions Trophy clash

KARACHI: Pakistan vice-captain Salman Ali Agha pointed out the team’s weaknesses after their defeat against New Zealand in their opening match of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 at the National Bank Stadium on Wednesday.

Will Young and Tom Latham’s centuries and clinical bowling performance propelled New Zealand to a comprehensive victory against Pakistan by 60 runs.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Salman emphasized the need for better batting performances and consistency. He stressed the importance of turning starts into substantial innings and described Fakhar Zaman as vital for a good start.

“We need to convert our 40s and 50s into big scores; otherwise, winning matches will remain difficult, as we saw today.”

“If Fakhar had opened today, the powerplay score could have been different. But today wasn’t our day, and that’s why we lost the match,” Salman remarked.

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Agha also highlighted the necessity of better strike rotation to build partnerships and maintain momentum. The all-rounder emphasized consistency as a crucial factor for competing with top teams.

“To become a strong force, we must maintain consistency. We can’t afford to perform poorly in one match and then exceptionally well in the next—we need to deliver consistently,” he said.

Reflecting on the team’s strategy, Agha revealed that Pakistan had aimed to limit New Zealand to a total below 300, considering the pitch conditions favourable for a chase.

However, their slow start in the batting powerplay—scoring just 22 runs—prevented them from gaining the required momentum.

“We planned to restrict them to around 270 or a maximum of 300 runs, as it was a chaseable target with a good start. But our poor start in batting cost us the momentum, ultimately leading to our failure in reaching the target,” he explained.

Following this setback, defending champions Pakistan will now travel to Dubai, where they will face arch-rivals India on February 23.

READ: Rohit Sharma hails Pakistan-born bowlers, downplays spin reliance

Pakistan vice-captain Salman Ali Agha expressed his aim to win the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and lift the coveted silverware in his hometown Lahore.

In the latest episode of the PCB Podcast, Salman opened up about his excitement, while stating that the tournament holds immense significance not just for him, but for the entire nation.

“I am excited for the Champions Trophy—Pakistan hosting an ICC event is special,” said Salman. “As a Lahore native, lifting the trophy in my hometown would be a dream come true. The Pakistan team has the potential to win.”

While the Pakistan-India clash remains the tournament’s most anticipated fixture, Salman made it clear that the ultimate goal is to bring the trophy home.

“The Pakistan-India match is the biggest, but winning the Champions Trophy is more important,” he added.

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“If we beat India but don’t win the tournament, that win holds no value. However, if we lose to India but lift the trophy, that’s a bigger achievement. Our goal is to perform well and win.”

Speaking about his role as vice-captain, Salman Ali Agha admitted that while the added responsibility brings pressure, it also gives him the freedom to express himself on the field.

“I am really enjoying cricket and the new role given to me. Being vice-captain comes with responsibility but also a sense of freedom,” he stated.

“The victories in Australia and South Africa gave me a lot of confidence, and I always prepare thoroughly a day before the match.”

For the unversed, the defending champions and hosts Pakistan will begin their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a game against New Zealand on February 19, followed by the much-awaited clash against arch-rivals India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23.

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