Vice-captain Salman Ali Agha lauds Pakistan's pace attack ahead of Australia series

Pakistan cricket team’s vice-captain Salman Ali Agha expressed confidence in the team’s pace attack, calling it exceptional with fast bowlers capable of bowling at speeds of 140 km/h.

Speaking to the media in Melbourne, Salman addressed the recent England Test series, explaining that Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah were not dropped but rather given a much-needed rest. 

"They had been playing continuous cricket, so rest was essential. Now they’re feeling quite fresh," he said.

Salman expressed hope that these three players would perform well in the upcoming series against Australia. He also commended Babar Azam’s continuous involvement in the game, saying, "Even when he isn’t the captain, Babar actively shares his insights."

Discussing the approach for the Australia series, Salman stated that the team had devised a strategy tailored to the conditions and opponent, with the help of Jason Gillespie, whose experience of local conditions has been beneficial.

“We’ve only been here two days, so the playing XI hasn’t been finalized yet,” he added.

The vice-captain also highlighted the team’s excitement and motivation to perform well against Australia.

“Each team member is eager and hopeful to do their best here. We’ll keep things simple and aim to put forth our best game,” he said.

Returning to ODI cricket after a year, Salman humorously noted, “We’re just seeing the kit color has changed, but the bat and ball are the same.”

Regarding the Champions Trophy, he commented that while preparations for the tournament are ongoing, their immediate focus remains on the Australia series, taking each series step-by-step.