Pakistan T20 captain Salman Ali Agha has emphasised the value of all-rounders as the team heads into the tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. The tournament, scheduled in Rawalpindi on Tuesday., will see Pakistan relying on versatile players capable of delivering with both bat and ball.
All-Rounders Form Core of Pakistan’s Strategy
The tri-series will open with Pakistan facing Zimbabwe at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Salman Ali Agha confirmed that the team will continue its strategy of selecting all-rounders over specialist batters and bowlers. He described having quality all-rounders as a “luxury” for Pakistan, allowing the team flexibility in squad combinations.
He noted, “All our all-rounders can bowl all four overs and bat effectively. So why not use them? Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf are both full bowlers and capable batters. Top teams rely on all-rounders, and we see it as an opportunity.”
Squad Selection and Player Updates
Pakistan named its tri-series squad earlier this month, with a few adjustments. Batter Hasan Nawaz was dropped to regain form in first-class cricket, while Abdul Samad is expected to fill the lower middle-order finisher’s role. Salman admitted that the middle-order has struggled but expressed confidence in Samad’s ability to contribute at number six.
The squad will otherwise remain unchanged, as Pakistan focuses on fine-tuning combinations ahead of the T20 World Cup in February-March. “We aim to give opportunities to all 15 players, but winning matches is our priority. In T20 cricket, no opponent can be taken lightly,” the captain added.
Salman Ali Agha Looks to Carry ODI Confidence into T20s
Salman acknowledged a poor run during the Asia Cup, where Pakistan lost the final against India, scoring only 72 runs in seven matches. However, he bounced back with a century against Sri Lanka in the first ODI and a half-century against South Africa. The captain is confident that this form will continue into the tri-series.
Sri Lanka Faces Setbacks
Sri Lanka confirmed that captain Charith Asalanka and fast bowler Asitha Fernando will miss the tournament due to illness. Experienced all-rounder Dasun Shanaka has been named captain, and young batter Pavan Rathnayake joins as a replacement.
Tri-Series Format and Fixtures
The tri-series features a double round-robin format, with each team playing four league matches. The top two teams will advance to the final on November 29. All matches will begin at 6:00 pm, with the toss scheduled for 5:30 pm.
Pakistan Squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicket-keeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicket-keeper), Usman Tariq.
Fixtures:
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Nov 18: Pakistan vs Zimbabwe
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Nov 20: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe
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Nov 22: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka
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Nov 23: Pakistan vs Zimbabwe
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Nov 25: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe
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Nov 27: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka
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Nov 29: Final
Salman Ali Agha and Pakistan will rely on all-rounders to set the tone in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, showcasing depth and flexibility in their squad.
