Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan T20I captain, on Saturday shared the trust he has on the capabilities of his team, he understands that his team will give strong performance in the upcoming T20 series against Bangladesh, explaining that players are ready to face any challenging situation without taking any pressure.
On the eve of the first T20I, in Dhaka, Salman Ali Agha answered to reporters that the series could be tough but he hoped for the best results.
He praised the powerful games played by Bangladesh, by saying,
“They are a competitive team and give tough challenges to their opponents at home and abroad, but we are also ready to play aggressive cricket.”
Salman also expressed that the team is well aware of the local conditions, as he himself and other members have joined Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) so we are having the knowledge of cricket grounds here.
He also said that during our training sessions in Karachi, we were practicing on the pitch that was made according to conditions in Dhaka.
“Understanding the conditions is key. We have prepared to adapt our game according to the pitch and match situations. Our experience from playing in the BPL gives us an edge here,” he said further.
The captain also acknowledged the services of senior players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, calling them world-class players who always served their team and country.
“Babar and Rizwan are world-class. They’ve served Pakistan incredibly well. T20 cricket is evolving every six months, every year.”
He further elaborated the strength of his team by saying that,
“We have players in the squad who match the style of cricket we want to play. There’s no pressure, our focus is solely on playing good cricket in this series.”
The ceremony was held at a local hotel in Dhaka on Saturday, where the trophy for the three-match T20 series between Bangladesh and Pakistan was unveiled. A photo session was also arranged, where captains from both teams, Litton Das and Salman Ali Agha both participated with the trophy.
Pakistan and Bangladesh are playing against each other after the series that was played in Lahore in May, where Pakistan won the whole series.
The all three games of the T20I series are hosted by Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka.
Pakistan squad for Bangladesh T20I series:
Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza and Sufyan Moqim.
Bangladesh T20I squad:
Litton Das (capt), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Mohammad Naim, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mohammad Saifuddin.
Series schedule in Bangladesh:
20 July – First T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)
22 July – Second T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)
24 July – Third T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)
