Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai
Dubai, Sep 18: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has urged his team to strengthen their batting in the middle overs as they prepare for a high-stakes Asia Cup Super Four clash against India on September 21.
Speaking after Pakistan’s 41-run victory over the UAE, which secured their spot in the next stage of the tournament, Agha acknowledged that the batting lineup still has areas to improve. “We got the job done but we needed to bat better in the middle overs,” he said. “The bowlers did well. We haven’t batted to our best yet. If we batted well, we would have ended up with 170-180.”
The skipper praised key performers in the UAE match, highlighting Shaheen Shah Afridi for his match-winning capabilities and Abrar for consistently making crucial contributions. “Shaheen is a match winner. His batting has improved. Abrar has been outstanding. He is someone who is bringing us back into the games. We are ready for any challenge. If we play good cricket, we can be good against any side,” Agha added.
Pakistan managed 146/9 against the UAE, with Shaheen’s late blitz of 29 not out off 14 balls rescuing the team. However, the top and middle order again failed to deliver, with Saim Ayub yet to open his account in three matches and Agha himself struggling to anchor the middle overs.
The captain emphasized that improving the 7th to 15th over phase will be crucial for the team. “Yeah, we’re ready for any challenge. We just want to play good cricket, and if we play good cricket like we’ve been playing for the last few months, we can compete against any side,” he said.
The upcoming contest against India carries added intensity, following India’s seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the group stage and the post-match “no-handshake” controversy, linked to political tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year. With both teams now in the Super Four, the stakes are higher than ever.
Agha concluded with a firm message: “We just want to play good cricket… If we play good cricket, we can be good against any side.”