Key points
- Nawaz shines with bat and ball
- Spinners picked based on pitch conditions
- Sharjah series builds Asia Cup momentum: Agha
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s T20I captain, Salman Ali Agha, hailed his side’s strong showing following a convincing 75-run win against Afghanistan in the tri-nation series final at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Agha acknowledged the quality of Afghanistan’s spin attack.
“Afghanistan arguably has the best spin attack in the world. If we managed to score 140, 180, and 150 runs against them, we’re confident we can do it against any team,” he said.
He added that his side played well against high-quality spin and expressed confidence ahead of future challenges.
Reflecting on Pakistan’s first innings, Agha called the target they set “challenging”.
Challenging chase
“We knew that a score around 140 would be tough, and once we reached that total, we felt it would be a challenging chase for them,” he explained.
Agha reserved special praise for all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz, who impressed with the bat, ball, and in the field.
“Since his comeback, Nawaz has been outstanding — delivering consistently in all facets of the game. Whenever we are in difficult situations, he is the kind of player we can rely on,” he said.
Addressing the team’s decision to play two spinners, Agha said conditions on the day dictated the choice.
“There was a lot of discussion, even from former cricketers and on social media, about playing two spinners. But for us, the decision always depends on the pitch conditions. We assess the pitch on the day, and today, playing two spinners worked well,” he added.
Preparation for Asia Cup
Looking ahead, the 31-year-old captain highlighted the importance of the Sharjah series as preparation for the Asia Cup 2025.
“This series was tough, but our focus was on preparing for the Asia Cup. Of course, we wanted to win, but the bigger goal was preparation,” Agha said.
“As a team, we’ve been building well since the Bangladesh series. We’re in good shape and fully ready for the Asia Cup.”
Pakistan posted 141-8, with Nawaz scoring 25 and sharing a key 40-run partnership with Agha. Afghanistan were skittled for 66 in reply, with Nawaz taking 4 wickets, including a hat-trick. Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, and Sufiyan Muqeem also chipped in with crucial dismissals.
