“We’re Getting Closer to a Perfect Game”: Salman Ali Agha

Dubai – Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has admitted that his side still has ground to cover after suffering a six-wicket loss to India in their Super Four clash at the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025, held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Agha was candid about his team’s shortcomings, particularly during the powerplay, while also highlighting individual performances that stood out.

“We are yet to play a perfect game,” Agha said. “But we’re getting there.”

Controversial Dismissal Raises Eyebrows

A major talking point was the dismissal of opener Fakhar Zaman, who was given out caught behind early in the innings under questionable circumstances.

“I think the ball hit the ground and went into the keeper’s hands,” Agha stated, hinting at a possible umpiring error. “If Fakhar had played through the powerplay, the score could have gone up to 190.”

Despite the controversy, Agha praised Fakhar’s intent at the top and also lauded Sahibzada Farhan for his aggressive approach, which gave Pakistan a strong start before a mid-innings slowdown.

Powerplay Proved Pivotal

The Pakistan captain conceded that India took control of the match in the first six overs of their chase, which proved to be the defining phase.

“Indian batsmen made the match one-sided in the powerplay itself,” he acknowledged. “Looking back, we could have scored 10–15 more runs. 171 was a good score, but it felt 15 short. In the powerplay, they batted well — that was the difference.”

Agha pointed out that 170–180 is typically a competitive score at Dubai, but India’s explosive start shifted the momentum early and left Pakistan playing catch-up.

Bowling and Fielding Under the Microscope

Pakistan’s bowling, especially in the powerplay, drew criticism from Agha himself, who felt the execution was lacking when it mattered most.

“We did not bowl the powerplay as we should have,” he admitted. “And we have to perform well in all three areas to win. We did not field very well.”

Still, the skipper found positives in the performances of Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf, whose tight spells in the middle overs kept Pakistan’s hopes alive despite the early damage.

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Optimism Ahead of Must-Win Game

Despite two successive defeats to India in the tournament, Agha struck a hopeful tone ahead of Pakistan’s upcoming clash against Sri Lanka.

“There are a lot of positives — the way Fakhar batted, Farhan batted, and Harry bowled,” he noted. “Also, Hussain Talat played spin very well, and that will help in the coming matches.”

Pakistan now face a must-win scenario against Sri Lanka if they are to stay in contention for a place in the Asia Cup final. With areas clearly identified for improvement, Agha remains confident his side is on the right track.

“We’re building toward something. The team is improving, and we’re close to delivering that complete performance.”