Salman Ali Agha confident ahead of T20I series against New Zealand

Pakistan’s T20I captain Salman Ali Agha is hopeful for a strong start as his team gets ready to face New Zealand in the opening match of the T20I series on Sunday.  

Speaking at a pre-series press conference, Salman acknowledged the team’s recent struggles but expressed confidence in their abilities.  

“We didn’t play up to our own standards or the expectations of our fans, which is why they are disappointed. But we have a new team, and that doesn’t mean it’s not a good team. There are experienced players in the squad as well, and we believe we have a strong combination to play good cricket and win,” he said.  

Talking about the pitch conditions, the 31-year-old noted that despite the green surface, spinners could still play an important role. He also provided an update on Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, who are recovering from injuries.  

“The pitch looks green, but spinners will also get some assistance. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf have performed well in T20 cricket, and we will miss Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, who are key players. Thankfully, they are recovering quickly and should be back in action for the upcoming series,” he added.  

Salman also discussed the transition period in Pakistan cricket as the team looks to form new combinations after years of relying on Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.  

“Babar Azam and Rizwan have contributed a lot to Pakistan cricket, and now we are working on building a new combination. The playing XI has not been finalized yet, but we are confident in our squad and focused on delivering strong performances,” he said.

The series between Pakistan and New Zealand includes five T20Is, followed by three ODIs, and will continue until April 5.  

Young players Abdul Samad and Hassan Nawaz have received their first call-ups to the national team and will be looking to make an impact.  

The last T20I series between the two teams took place in April 2024 when New Zealand visited Pakistan. The five-match series ended in a 2-2 draw after the first game in Rawalpindi was washed out due to rain.

New Zealand T20I Squad:

Michael Bracewell (capt), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zakary Foulkes (games 4 & 5), Mitchell Hay, Matt Henry (games 4 & 5), Kyle Jamieson (games 1, 2 & 3), Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Will O’Rourke (games 1, 2 & 3), Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi.

Pakistan T20I Squad:

Salman Ali Agha (capt), Shadab Khan (vice-capt), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Haris, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousaf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan.