Pakistan Close to Finding Perfect XI, Says Salman Ali Agha After Sri Lanka Victory

Pakistan showcased a commanding performance against Sri Lanka in the 3rd match of the ongoing Tri-Series. They won the contest by 7 wickets, chasing a modest target of 128 runs inside 16 overs. Sahibzada Farhan remained the star player of the match, as he scored an unbeaten 80 runs in the second innings.

The captain of Pakistan, Salman Ali Agha, looked satisfied with his team’s performance after the match. He said the team is moving in the right direction and is getting close to finding the ‘Perfect XI’ in T20 internationals.

"It was a complete game, we were very good with both bat and ball. We started really well in all three departments and that's what we look for. We had the luxury of Nawaz and Faheem as all-rounders, who can bat and take wickets as well," said Salman Ali Agha at the post-match presentation.

The green shirts played the match without having the services of their star bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi. He missed the contest due to having a minor foot injury. As a precautionary measure, the management decided to rest him, so that he could get fully fit for the next game.

Mohammad Wasim Jr was added to the squad in place of Shaheen Shah Afridi. He bowled superbly in the first innings, proving his selection right for the match.  

The collective performances of Wasim Jr and Salman Mirza gave Agha confidence in the bench strength of Pakistan. He was extremely happy to see both bowlers performing well in the match, as it showcased their growth in international cricket.

"We always look for bench strength, and now we have bowlers sitting on the bench, like Wasim Jr., who can put up these kinds of performances. That's what we always wanted, having a perfect bench. Salman was a bench kind of a bowler a few series back, and now he's becoming a front-line bowler as well. It is something I wanted to have, but now it's tough making a playing XI," said Salman Ali Agha.

Salman Ali Agha Lauds Sahibzada Farhan for Stellar Display

The captain was also happy with the performance of Sahibzada Farhan, who played a match-winning knock against Sri Lanka in the second innings. He said Farhan is a special batter who can take the game away from any opposition if he stays at the crease long enough.

"We always wanted to start well, and he's someone who, if he bats for three, four overs, he can bat like that. He can take the game away from any opposition," said Salman Ali Agha.

He then said that the Pakistan team is moving in the right direction and players have an idea about their respective roles. Keeping this in view, they are close to finding the ‘Perfect XI’ for T20 internationals soon.

"We're very close to having a perfect playing XI, and giving chances to fringe players, who are coming in and chipping in." said Salman Ali Agha.

The match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi turned out to be a one-sided contest. The home side showcased complete domination over the visitors in both innings of the match. The green shirts first took the Sri Lankan batting under pressure by taking regular wickets. Due to that, they only managed to score 128 runs at the end of the first innings.

When Pakistan came out to bat, the duo of Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub started the innings aggressively. The positive batting of Farhan gave Lankan bowlers no room to hide, as he kept on hitting boundaries to chase the given total quickly. As a result, Pakistan won the match by 7 wickets, making its position more firm in the ongoing Tri-Series.