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“My dream is to win the T20I World Cup in 2026 and the ODI World Cup in 2027”: Salman Ali Agha

We all dream about sucess in life but sir agha you are a liability along with one or two others you will fail the country and you will not fulfill your dream its for you to prove doubters like me wrong
Good luck
 
So, what do the salty ones here expect SAA to say , "We are just here for the scenery and hope our guys don't get roasted on ice every time we step out ?"
Of course he will give a positive statement - thats what a captain, a coach , even your office manager will say - its their job to make every one perform better/more than their actual capability- thats why he said what he said...
 
Two questions
Does Salman Ali Agha have the courage to drop Shaheen (and maybe Babar) if he wants to?
Does Salman Ali Agha see Shaheen and Babar as weak links in the first place?
 
Corridor of Uncertainty said:
Two questions
Does Salman Ali Agha have the courage to drop Shaheen (and maybe Babar) if he wants to?
Does Salman Ali Agha see Shaheen and Babar as weak links in the first place?
Click to expand...

A non-performing captain cannot take such bold decisions even if he sees the problem. The power of the captain is also severely curtailed now, he's no Imran Khan who is going to pick random players from the nets and there won't be anyone to challenge him.

I didn't like him in T20 format but at least he has shown a willingness to take risks which is way more than the previous incumbents. The best he can do, & something that he should focus on is scoring quick runs in his next two matches. If we make it to super 8 (which we should easily do now), the real tournament begins.

Our Super 8 pool doesn't have Australia and South Africa so that's a big plus.

1770751056184.png
 
Corridor of Uncertainty said:
Two questions
Does Salman Ali Agha have the courage to drop Shaheen (and maybe Babar) if he wants to?
Does Salman Ali Agha see Shaheen and Babar as weak links in the first place?
Click to expand...
Add bits Shadab Khan . I thought Sufiyan Muqeem would have been picked regularly who has better record with the ball.
 
The first step towards success is to believe.

Kapil dev in 83 and IK in 92 are perfect examples of captains who truly believed they could win the World Cup when no one else including their own team and system didn’t believe.

If and only if Agha genuinely believes they can win the World Cup, will they have any chance of winning it.
 
Nothing wrong with aiming high and being confident.

If Pakistan can make it to semi, they have a good chance of going to final and winning it.
 
When you win toss and bat first in supposedly rain affected game (washed out luckily and saved him from humiliation), you must dream of winning 1 or 2 games max.
 
Big day for the team and captain. Agha has to pick his team wisely , plenty of options in bowling & batting. Win today and dream Wt20 is alive, big games not only need skill but a certain level of mental toughness.

For mental toughness Naseem >SSA & Abrar.

Once again pick your cards wisely , this team has resources to win WT20
 
Take one game at a time. Live in present rather than past or future. Work hard and put in hard yards into preparation rather than leaving it for the game days.
 
Kianig89 said:
Big day for the team and captain. Agha has to pick his team wisely , plenty of options in bowling & batting. Win today and dream Wt20 is alive, big games not only need skill but a certain level of mental toughness.

For mental toughness Naseem >SSA & Abrar.

Once again pick your cards wisely , this team has resources to win WT20
Click to expand...

My personal opinion is that Pak team is decent enough to mount a serious challenge in this T20 world cup. Feel that except India they can beat all the remaining teams (England who has been historically our kryptonite can be beaten if we have an exceptional game)

Win today and an easier path to semi. Lose today a close game and back to calculators but even then they'll have a chance because they play the last game in the group. Lose badly and then we should be looking to pick up direct flights to Bangladesh from Lanka.
 
GoUgandaCranes said:
My personal opinion is that Pak team is decent enough to mount a serious challenge in this T20 world cup. Feel that except India they can beat all the remaining teams (England who has been historically our kryptonite can be beaten if we have an exceptional game)

Win today and an easier path to semi. Lose today a close game and back to calculators but even then they'll have a chance because they play the last game in the group. Lose badly and then we should be looking to pick up direct flights to Bangladesh from Lanka.
Click to expand...
Also kick out useless passengers in t20 team

I hope they defeat England
 
GoUgandaCranes said:
A non-performing captain cannot take such bold decisions even if he sees the problem. The power of the captain is also severely curtailed now, he's no Imran Khan who is going to pick random players from the nets and there won't be anyone to challenge him.

I didn't like him in T20 format but at least he has shown a willingness to take risks which is way more than the previous incumbents. The best he can do, & something that he should focus on is scoring quick runs in his next two matches. If we make it to super 8 (which we should easily do now), the real tournament begins.

Our Super 8 pool doesn't have Australia and South Africa so that's a big plus.

View attachment 161528
Click to expand...
Well he did drop Shaheen. Let's see if Babar turns it around.
 
Hogayi dream . When you don’t have enough guts to back players and keep helping your mates this is what you deserve . Just as what Babar did . He did the same . Well deserved humiliation
 
This guy is the biggest freeloader i have seen for a captain. If you form an all time T20 team for pakistan i doubt he would walk into 3rd ATG XI.
 
Your highness King Babar will certainly help you achieve that goal, and with your (and your genius coach) out of this world game strategy, I am sure that cup will fall right in your lap.
 
I have zero expectation every time this guy comes into bat and that's not good considering he's our #3 AND captain.
 
But but but saar he is hero saar... I Will play at number 3 saaar.

I played 1 good knock in my whole career saar, so i will play my whole life at number 3 saar and destroy the whole team saar...
 
keep dreaming...nothing matters until you perform. His body language today vs England was pathetic.
 
Fakhar Zaman
Saim Ayub
Maaz Sadaqat
Abdullah Shafique (wk)
Salman Agha
Irfan Niazi
Abdul Samad
Naseem Shah
Shaheen Shah (c)
Haris Rauf
Abrar Ahmed

Sahibzada Farhan
Mohammad Wasim
Saud Shakeel
Usman Khan (wk)
Sufiyan Muqeem


I would be very happy with this squad, we can’t go into a World Cup with a team full of players that have zero experience at the domestic level. (1-2 players max)
 
Dreams must be backed by talent.

Unlikely to happen with the current players who are weak in many disciplines (mentally weak, zero game and situational awareness, the old passion is missing), apart from technical skills.

Even reaching the semis seems difficult with this team. Would be glad to be proved wrong.

A miracle is needed.
 
They had a fair shot at world cup T20. There is zero chance Pakistan will get anywhere close to winning 2027 world cup
 
YousafTheBeast said:
Fakhar Zaman
Saim Ayub
Maaz Sadaqat
Abdullah Shafique (wk)
Salman Agha
Irfan Niazi
Abdul Samad
Naseem Shah
Shaheen Shah (c)
Haris Rauf
Abrar Ahmed

Sahibzada Farhan
Mohammad Wasim
Saud Shakeel
Usman Khan (wk)
Sufiyan Muqeem


I would be very happy with this squad, we can’t go into a World Cup with a team full of players that have zero experience at the domestic level. (1-2 players max)
Click to expand...
Hahah make someone a keeper who has never kept in his life.
 
YousafTheBeast said:
Fakhar Zaman
Saim Ayub
Maaz Sadaqat
Abdullah Shafique (wk)
Salman Agha
Irfan Niazi
Abdul Samad
Naseem Shah
Shaheen Shah (c)
Haris Rauf
Abrar Ahmed

Sahibzada Farhan
Mohammad Wasim
Saud Shakeel
Usman Khan (wk)
Sufiyan Muqeem


I would be very happy with this squad, we can’t go into a World Cup with a team full of players that have zero experience at the domestic level. (1-2 players max)
Click to expand...

Has Abdullah ever kept before? :yk

Not easy to become a keeper quickly. It takes years of practice to be a good keeper.
 
Devadwal said:
Pakistan is not going to win any ICC Trophy for atleast next 7-8 years. :kp
Click to expand...
Same was said in 2007......... in icc trophy you need little luck and couple of players dream run to win trophy....... no one can predict who gonna and its more diffucult in odi format......
 
Agha does have intent and his ODI performances are good enough for PCT, if he can improve his captaincy he should be made ODI captain..
His issue remains game awareness, sometimes he lets games drift away.
 
PCT has much better chance of doing well in T20 WCs than ODI World Cup.

ODI is longer format and harder to sustain performance.
 
BouncerGuy said:
Pakistan T20I Captain Salman Ali Agha speaking during PCB Podcast:

About T20I World Cup 2026 preparation:

“I feel we are on the right track. Of course, many things still need improvement, but to reach anywhere, you must be on the right track first. We have prepared for the World Cup for six months, planning and training. Now we are finding the right combination. We still have six games before the World Cup, so we will use them to strengthen what we have built.”

About Team combinations:

“The roles are clear. We know what roles are needed in the playing XI and squad. Players may appear in different roles, but the roles are defined. Now the next six games should be used to give consistency, so players go into the World Cup with confidence. I don’t think there will be major changes, because for six to seven months we have prepared with this combination. Results are also showing.”

About captaincy affecting the batting:

“When I became captain, I didn’t realize the difference. I had captained domestically, but Pakistan captaincy is an extra responsibility and pressure. It is impossible to say there is no pressure. At first, I struggled to balance batting and captaincy, but they are two different jobs. When you bat, you must remove captaincy from your mind. Initially, it was difficult, but in six to seven months, I learned how to manage both.”

“Playing for Pakistan itself was a dream. I had played ten years of first‑class cricket, over two hundred plus games, and many runs. So, for me, playing for Pakistan was pride. Captaincy is the icing on the cake. I never thought of it, but when you work honestly, unexpected things come.”

About Babar Azam’s comeback under his captaincy:

“I never saw him as “the world’s best batter.” I see him as a friend, and he sees me the same. When my form was poor, he came to me and advised me. His form was not great for two or three years, though he still performed. Expectations are high because of what he has done for Pakistan in the last 7-8 years. We talk and support each other as friends. He is a very good listener. Even juniors can advise him, and he listens. If I felt something could help him, I told him, and if he implemented it, it helped.”

About playing a record 56 matches in one year:

“I never thought at the start of 2025 that I would play all matches. But I tried to play every match for Pakistan. Playing so many matches in one year is luck and pride. Out of 250 million people, if you play all the matches for Pakistan, it is a huge honor. Hard work is needed, but luck too.”

“Fitness is crucial. Without fitness, you cannot play three formats and 56 matches in a year. Recovery is equally important. People focus on fitness, but recovery is just as vital. I train in the morning (gym or ground) and in the evening (skills). With the team, practice takes three to four hours plus gym, so six to seven hours daily. Matches take the whole day.”

About his journey from starting cricket in Lahore to becoming Pakistan’s captain:

“It feels unreal. I come from a humble background, from the streets near Station and Railway Road. I started at Apollo Club, still play there. Went through under‑16, under‑19, and first‑class for ten years. There were ups and downs, disappointments when my name was not selected despite deserving. But now I see those struggles were necessary to shape me. My childhood coach, Malik Sarwar Mahmood, was like a father figure. Without hi,m I may not have played for Pakistan. Others helped too, like Naveed Ahmed (now UAE fielding coach) and Tahir Mahmood. My father wanted me to study, but when I started playing first‑class, he saw my ability and supported me.”

About preference in facing fast bowlers or spinners:

“I enjoy batting against spinners, I feel I can score quickly against them. Against fast bowlers, I play well too, but spinners give me more joy.”

About his dream and achievements in the future:

“Many achievements are still ahead. Personally, I don’t care about records or centuries. My dream is to win the T20 World Cup in 2026 and the ODI World Cup in 2027.”

Which players inspired you?

“I loved watching Mohammad Yousuf’s batting, especially Test centuries. Worldwide, I admired Michael Clarke. Even now I watch their innings to learn how they shaped ranges and handled pressure.”

Do you feel Pakistan has produced substitutes for the great players of the past?

“Cricket has become faster, and players don’t play for 10–15 years like before. That’s how those legends built their names. Now, if someone gets injured, we need backup players ready. For example, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, and others are waiting outside. They must be prepared. If they aren’t, then when injuries happen, we panic. That’s why we need rotation policies, giving everyone game time so they are ready. For spinners, we now have four or five options—Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan, Faisal Akram, and others. They must be given equal opportunities so they can handle pressure when called upon.”

About Mike Hesson as head coach:

“He has been here seven or eight months. He treats every player equally, whether senior or junior. That’s his strength. I had already worked with him for two years before, so our chemistry was built. When he came to the Pakistan team, it was just about executing that understanding. He has created a culture of unity, respect, and clarity of roles. Even if someone isn’t playing, he explains their role. Much of our recent success is due to him.”

About the importance of the series against Sri Lanka before the World Cup?

“Very important. Senior players like me have played a lot in Sri Lanka, so we know the conditions. But for younger players, this series will give them experience of what to expect in the World Cup. Sri Lanka’s pitches often assist spin and have some swing under light. Playing there will prepare us well.”
Click to expand...
No harm in day dreaming big ... ek touh khatam ho gaya .
 
We will win a lot more if this bloke is kicked out of the team. Absolutely wasted a place in the WC. Can't bowl can't bat can't captain. Joke of a player. In ODIs he is a minnow basher in lost causes where he statpads. Will be a failure vs big teams in ODI WC as well.
 
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