Can Salman Agha Lead Pakistan to Success in the T20I Series Against South Africa?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Salman Agha leads a balanced and energetic T20I squad.
- The series features a mix of returning players and new talent.
- Babar Azam is the leading run-scorer against South Africa in T20Is.
- The matches will be held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
- Pakistan and South Africa have a balanced T20I history.
Rawalpindi, Oct 27 (NationPress) Pakistan’s T20I captain Salman Ali Agha is feeling optimistic as he prepares for the upcoming three-match series against South Africa, calling his squad “interesting and exciting.” He highlighted the team’s solid balance and vibrant energy, crediting his aspirations for a triumphant T20I series to the blend of seasoned players returning and fresh talent joining the ranks.
“We have a very interesting and exciting side, with several comebacks and a few new faces as well. I am thrilled to lead this team and sincerely hope to have a great series,” Agha mentioned on the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) digital platform.
Reflecting on Pakistan’s recent T20I win over Bangladesh, the right-handed batter attributed the team’s success to their consistent performance and effective execution of strategies.
“We had an excellent series against Bangladesh at home, and I am optimistic about our upcoming series as well. We aim to implement our plans effectively over a longer duration. As I always say, we have a formidable team - one capable of defeating any side. South Africa is indeed a strong team; although they have some key absences, they still boast considerable talent,” he added.
In the current T20I squad, former captain Babar Azam stands out as the top run-scorer against South Africa, accumulating 447 runs in 13 innings, while Shaheen Shah Afridi leads the bowling statistics with 13 wickets in 12 matches.
The series will shift to Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium for the second and third T20Is, scheduled for October 31 and November 1, respectively. The tour will conclude with a three-match ODI series from November 4 to 8 at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad - marking the venue’s first ODI since April 11, 2008, when Pakistan triumphed over Bangladesh by seven wickets.
Historically, Pakistan and South Africa have clashed 24 times in T20Is, with their head-to-head record perfectly even at 12 victories each.
Pakistan squad for the South Africa T20Is: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wk) and Usman Tariq.