LAHORE (AM Khan): Pakistan captain Salman Agha has credited strong teamwork for his side’s impressive 3-0 series victory over Australia, expressing confidence that the national team will continue its strong performances in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Addressing a post-match media talk, Salman Agha said: “The 3-0 victory against Australia is the result of teamwork and collective performance. The team is playing quality cricket and we are confident of delivering strong performances in the T20 World Cup as well,” he said.
Responding to a question regarding senior opener Fakhar Zaman, the Pakistan captain said: “Fakhar Zaman has been consistently performing for Pakistan over the last decade. If he is going through a difficult phase at the moment, the team management will fully support him. We have complete trust in our players and it is important to stand by them during challenging times.”
The captain clarified that decisions regarding Pakistan’s participation in global tournaments are not within the team’s authority. He said the national squad would follow any decision made by the government of Pakistan and the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman regarding international commitments.
Salman Agha also addressed comparisons between playing conditions in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, stressing that both countries offer different challenges. “Pakistan and Sri Lanka are two different countries with entirely different playing conditions. It is not appropriate to compare them directly,” he explained.
Discussing Pakistan’s current playing style, the skipper said the team would adopt the same aggressive mindset and tactical approach during the World Cup. He noted that the unpredictable nature of the T20 format makes it impractical to fix batting positions permanently. “In T20 cricket, flexibility is essential. We currently have five quality spin bowlers in our squad, which is a major strength for the team,” he added.
Speaking about former captain Babar Azam, he urged patience and confidence in the star batter’s abilities. “Babar Azam needs some space. If he is given confidence and freedom, he will deliver performances according to his true potential,” he said.
The skipper confirmed that Usman Khan remains the team’s first-choice option and continues to enjoy the full confidence of the team management.
Salman emphasised that every player must fulfill individual responsibilities and deliver their best performances in matches. When asked about an on-field matter involving Australian all-rounder Cameron Green, Salman clarified that such issues fall under the jurisdiction of the match referee and are unrelated to team management decisions. He also spoke about emerging player Usman Tariq, confirming that he has successfully cleared two fitness tests and continues to meet team requirements.
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