Dubai: Pakistan Captain Salman Ali Agha said on Wednesday that his team has the power to accept an opponent after a qualification for the Super Four phase of the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025.
After hours of uncertainty around their last group stage, Pakistan eventually faced the United Arab Emirates in the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. The men in Green produced a clinical display and claimed a 41-run victory to continue in the eight-country tournament.
Salman said that the qualification of the team had stimulated morally and had underlined their willingness for harder challenges.
Firstly in the bat, the green shirts needed a Swashbuckling Cameo from their number nine Slagman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, after the half century of Fakhar Zaman the order, to collect a decent total of 146/9 in 20 overs.
After the resignation of Zaman in the 14th, Pakistan lost Wickets at an alarming pace and it was slipped to 110/7 in 16.5 overs until Shaheen recovered with an undefeated 29 out of only 14 deliveries with the help of three four and two sixes.
Although the total turned out to be sufficient for their bowlers to defend, repeated Pakistan captain Agha their battle with the bat, especially in the middle of the middle.
The all-rounder claimed that they still have to hit at their best, with which they can break the 170-run barrier, regardless of the opposition.
“We have done the job, but we still have to improve our batting in the middle order. That is a point of care and something we have to work on,” said Agha.
“Apart from that, we did well. We have not yet beaten our best … We still think our way to 150. If we hit well in the middle of the exaggerated, we can push it to 170, regardless of the opposition,” he added.
Agha then praised left-wing Pacer Shaheen for his batting exploits and credited top-order Slagman Saim Ayub for chipping in crucial phases of the game with the ball.
“Shaheen’s batting is much improved he is already great with the ball. Saim is someone who brought us back into games and I hope he can continue like this until the end,” Agha continued.
When asked for the Super Four Challenge, Agha expressed the willingness of his team and stated that they can compete with every opposition.
“We are ready for every challenge and if we keep playing the way we have the past four months, we are good against every side.”
