"If you can win these kinds of games, then you must be a special team": Salman Ali Agha

[Cricket Warrior]

Salman Ali Agha in a post match ceremony after defeating Bangladesh in the super four clash of the Asia Cup 2025:

"If you win these kind of games, then we must be a special team. Everyone played really well. There is some improvement needed in batting. But we will work on that. Shaheen is a special player. He does what the team needs of him. Very happy for him. We were 15 runs short. The way we bowled up front, we will create pressure. We bowled well with the new ball. More often that not you will win games if you bowl like this. We have been fielding well. Shane has been working hard on us. We have been having extra sessions. Mike Hesson said if you can't field, you won't be in the team. We are a good enough team to beat anyone. We will come back on Sunday and try and do that."

 

[Prince of Dorne]

Sorry Mr. Agha, absolutely nothing special about beating BD. If you scored 50, they would still lose. They never won anything even in book cricket.

 

[Savak]

Khuda Ka Khauf karo, this is Bangladesh for heavens sake

 

[jnaveen1980]

Bar seems to be really low i suppose.

 

[Rana]

Bar seems to be really low i suppose.

It was a low bar total to defend under pressure

Bang won the toss. They had 30 runs less to chase than they had against SL (which they won) and India.

Pakistan bowled exceptionally well.

 

[jnaveen1980]

It was a low bar total to defend under pressure

Bang won the toss. They had 30 runs less to chase than they had against SL (which they won) and India.

Pakistan bowled exceptionally well.

That is the same template from 2009. Bowling sides out for low totals. So not much change i suppose. Bowling has to bail Pakistan out.

 

[Major]

We have been fielding really well. Since Shane came, we have been working really hard. Mike, our coach said whoever cannot field, cannot be in the team - so everyone is working very hard with Shane and I am happy with how everyone is fielding.

This is what Agha said.

I like this. Its good Mike Hesson is forcing this and no wonder Sufiyan Muqeem is on the bench.

In this Asia Cup, fielding has mattered, and Pakistan has been the best fielding side.

 

[mazkhan]

What about being able to bat like a batsmen in chewing gum agha and tik tok clip saim case.

 

[Rana]

That is the same template from 2009. Bowling sides out for low totals. So not much change i suppose. Bowling has to bail Pakistan out.

It was Pakistan’s batting that scored 80-3 in the last 8

We work as a unit.

We didn’t throw in the towel today.

 

[Devadwal]

Yes against mighty Bangladesh

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Pakistan has played according to expectation. They will end up as the second best team in the tournament no matter what. I think this is an honest reflection of the team. They are better than Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, but the gap with India is still massive. Fans should be content with the team reaching the final.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

It was Pakistan’s batting that scored 80-3 in the last 8

We work as a unit.

We didn’t throw in the towel today.

Well Bangladesh dropped three relatively easy catches too. Including two big ones of Shaheen and Nawaz.

Had they taken those catches we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

 

[jnaveen1980]

It was Pakistan’s batting that scored 80-3 in the last 8

We work as a unit.

We didn’t throw in the towel today.

Lower order bails pakistan out. Pakistan top 6 are striking at 106 in this torunament Worst top 6. Barely above Hongkong strike rate. Average below honkong

 

[Rana]

Well Bangladesh dropped three relatively easy catches too. Including two big ones of Shaheen and Nawaz.

Had they taken those catches we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

Well, we are having it though are we not?

 

[Devadwal]

Lower order bails pakistan out. Pakistan top 6 are striking at 106 in this torunament Worst top 6. Barely above Hongkong strike rate. Average below honkong

But they removed Babar, Rizwan because they play at low strike rate while Intent Merchant players are scoring runs at 106 strike rate

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Pakistan has played according to expectation. They will end up as the second best team in the tournament no matter what. I think this is an honest reflection of the team. They are better than Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, but the gap with India is still massive. Fans should be content with the team reaching the final.

Absolutely. Mission accomplished as far as I'm concerned.

 

[zahid01]

Win is win need to raise our game for the final we cannot bowl faheem against India he's an ideal bowler for slogging saim needs to bat lower down if he plays or bring in h nawaz and faheem is capable batsmen he can do job at 3 we need to think out of the box

 

[JaDed]

Well self confidence is good

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Well, we are having it though are we not?

Point is that the batting from most of the batsmen was quite atrocious. And it was the same case in the last match too. If you want to raise your standard above teams like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka etc. you can't be batting like. Pakistan have two gears. Either they look for big boundaries or they start looking for singles. And then they either get a single or it's a dot ball. Can't have this kind of approach in T20 against good teams. Batsmen need to show more common sense and brains while batting.

 

[Rana]

Point is that the batting from most of the batsmen was quite atrocious. And it was the same case in the last match too. If you want to raise your standard above teams like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka etc. you can't be batting like. Pakistan have two gears. Either they look for big boundaries or they start looking for singles. And then they either get a single or it's a dot ball. Can't have this kind of approach in T20 against good teams. Batsmen need to show more common sense and brains while batting.

Batting in Dubai…batting first…

Has not been good enough.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

You have to give Pakistan credit for one thing though: the side is packed with all-rounders and players who can contribute with both bat and ball. They have batting till No. 9 and six genuine bowling options; three pace and three spin. This has been the point of difference for Pakistan against teams like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, who have more one-dimensional line-ups. In this regard, Hesson’s strategy of having a deep batting order has definitely paid off.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

You have to give Pakistan credit for one thing though: the side is packed with all-rounders and players who can contribute with both bat and ball. They have batting till No. 9 and six genuine bowling options; three pace and three spin. This has been the point of difference for Pakistan against teams like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, who have more one-dimensional line-ups. In this regard, Hesson’s strategy of having a deep batting order has definitely paid off.

Ya so true bro someone like shaheen batting at 9 comes up the order smashes 2 sixes its the depth which hesson has created in the team pakistan bat really deep which has won them 2 knock out matches in a row.

 

[AZulfi]

Why are we always 15 runs short? Babar did the same.

Just admit it like a man and say that we were at least 35 runs short on this wicket. Par winning score batting first in Dubai is 171.

 

[ads101]

Lower order bails pakistan out. Pakistan top 6 are striking at 106 in this torunament Worst top 6. Barely above Hongkong strike rate. Average below honkong

They’ve been beyond trash. I think we were going to win against Bangladesh regardless.

Surprised Sri Lanka are up there. Perhaps they were a bit unlucky to be batting first both times in super 4s. Though I think we’ve outbowled them.

 

[jnaveen1980]

They’ve been beyond trash. I think we were going to win against Bangladesh regardless.

Surprised Sri Lanka are up there. Perhaps they were a bit unlucky to be batting first both times in super 4s. Though I think we’ve outbowled them.

Both Bangladesh and SL lack depth. SL lacked depth in bowling. BD lacked depth in batting. Team with depth can cover a lot of inadequacies aginst these teams.

 

[ads101]

Both Bangladesh and SL lack depth. SL lacked depth in bowling. BD lacked depth in batting. Team with depth can cover a lot of inadequacies aginst these teams.

Yeah I agree.

Just noticed Oman have 11 players in that table. They didn’t even make the second stage. That’s pretty impressive lol, looks like everyone in the squad must have had a chance to bat . Or they must have lost one game and go now we’ve got to completely switch things up for next game .

 

[Katwalindian]

Well Bangladesh dropped three relatively easy catches too. Including two big ones of Shaheen and Nawaz.

Had they taken those catches we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

There is no if buts in cricket....Pakistan would have won at least two more icc trophies if catches were not dropped....

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

There is no if buts in cricket....Pakistan would have won at least two more icc trophies if catches were not dropped....

Fair enough

 

[Caved12]

It’s great to see Pakistan win these two games and reach the final to face India again. A T20 final is always unpredictable, and InshaAllah Pakistan will rise to the occasion on Sunday. The pressure is on India, they’ve looked cocky and arrogant lately, and when that happens, teams often lose focus. Hopefully, we can surprise them and lift the trophy.

That said, these wins aren’t as special as they might look. Our batting has been extremely poor throughout this tournament. We’ve only managed to beat low ranked and associate level teams who themselves were in terrible form, playing their worst cricket. Credit to Pakistan’s bowlers, they’ve been consistent, but the opposition batting has been so weak that they’ve looked like minnows. Not a single Pakistan batter has really had a good tournament. Only Farhan has shown some fight, but even he needed far too many chances to get his runs. The rest have failed miserably.

Fielding has somewhat improved, but it’s now time for our underperforming batters to step up in the final. This Sunday might well be the last chance for players like Haris, Agha, Talat, or even Saim to prove themselves before the selectors decide to drop them. One big performance is overdue, this is the moment to deliver.

 

[Abid Z]

That is the same template from 2009. Bowling sides out for low totals. So not much change i suppose. Bowling has to bail Pakistan out.

But for once thank god the bowling clicked. It almost didn’t and against a stronger team 3 6’s in the final team were on. Who knows a no ball 6 and the game was gone. But it’s rare for Pak to win with their bowling these days so happy it came good in the end.

 

[jnaveen1980]

But for once thank god the bowling clicked. It almost didn’t and against a stronger team 3 6’s in the final team were on. Who knows a no ball 6 and the game was gone. But it’s rare for Pak to win with their bowling these days so happy it came good in the end.

They won all their games due to bowling and bowlers who could bat. Nothing due to batsmen. THere is a solid data evidence for this.

 

[Buffet]

Go Pakistan , win this Final!

 

[GoogleToggle]

Excellent performance against one of the greatest T20i side in the world packed with power hitters and t20 specialist bowlers.

This should make Pakistan proud now that they have won the runners up trophy for this Asia Cup

 

[ElRaja]

pak have won all their games barring india, given how utterly useless the batting has been, the team as a whole deserves some credit. whilst not ideal the performance has been respectable. pak have beaten afg, sl and bang, all three are decent t20 sides, pakistan arent world beaters, for their ability and level they have done well. certainly a better performance than losing to the USA.

if by some miracle the batting clicks against india they have a comeptitve chance.

 

[ghalib kichlu]

But they removed Babar, Rizwan because they play at low strike rate while Intent Merchant players are scoring runs at 106 strike rate

Because under Babar Pakistan won every Asia cup match and trophy

 

[cricketmania22]

At least don’t use a “special team” tag when you’re losing atrociously to India in the same tournament and scrapping to victory against a lower ranked team. At least compete against India first and then say something. Saying that after a win against Bangladesh makes you look stupid.

 

[Savak]

Pakistan has played according to expectation. They will end up as the second best team in the tournament no matter what. I think this is an honest reflection of the team. They are better than Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, but the gap with India is still massive. Fans should be content with the team reaching the final.

Disagree with Pakistan being better than Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. We are at par or slightly worse than them, we have lost against these teams in series recently, the gap between these teams is not massive in comparison to the gap between India and the rest of Asia.

Pakistan can only call itself the second best team in Asia if it consistently wins, outplays and blows away the likes of Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

 

[globetrotter]

Yesterday it was battle of minnows, one minnow wins it. Luck favors the most "feared"

 

[Caved12]

If he scores valuable runs and helps our team win on Sunday against India, a lot will be forgotten about his poor form and captaincy. Just beat them, that's all that matters now, and that's all I care about.

 

[chakdeindian]

pak have won all their games barring india, given how utterly useless the batting has been, the team as a whole deserves some credit. whilst not ideal the performance has been respectable. pak have beaten afg, sl and bang, all three are decent t20 sides, pakistan arent world beaters, for their ability and level they have done well. certainly a better performance than losing to the USA.

if by some miracle the batting clicks against india they have a comeptitve chance.

When did they play afg in this tournament?..from when Bang and SL better T20 team when they rank below pakistan in ICC rankings...

 

[BouncerGuy]

The only reason we have to celebrate is that Pakistan won and our bowling punched above its weight, but the way Bangladesh batters batted, it was even worse than minnows.. They had no game awareness.

Pakistan's batting has been pathetic and that is where the real problem is. Fakhar's t20 hype should be over now, he is not worth it anymore.. Saim?? Speechless... Salman? LOL

Talat? He played once in a blue moon run-a-ball knock and people started doing bhangra but he is not a t20 batter and never will be..... haris played the best knock of his career for me..

 

[Vikram1989]

Well Bangladesh dropped three relatively easy catches too. Including two big ones of Shaheen and Nawaz.

Had they taken those catches we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

Even umpires call with shaheen.pak played well but its against bng not against the top tiers .

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

If you think winning this game in this fashion against this BD team makes you special, you’re probably special but not in the way you think….

 

[Hitman]

Win the tournament and give whatever statement you want. That way no one can even poke you.

 

[Aami]

Go on lads!

In the final.

Lets beat India now and bring it home!

 

[DTrump]

Disagree with Pakistan being better than Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. We are at par or slightly worse than them, we have lost against these teams in series recently, the gap between these teams is not massive in comparison to the gap between India and the rest of Asia.

Pakistan can only call itself the second best team in Asia if it consistently wins, outplays and blows away the likes of Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Yes. They have outperformed them in this tournament but i would hesitate in calling them better.
Whoever turns up on the night will win. Them beating Pakistan will not be an upset.

The H2H with Afghanistan is 6-4.
SL had won the last 5 T20IS against Pakistan. Been a long time since they played each other though
Ban won a series this year.

Good tournament but that's about it.

 

[Aami]

We're not very good, on same level as Bang, SL, Afg, who cares?

India on Sunday!

 

[cricketAXEpert]

Salman Ali Agha in a post match ceremony after defeating Bangladesh in the super four clash of the Asia Cup 2025:

"If you win these kind of games, then we must be a special team. Everyone played really well. There is some improvement needed in batting. But we will work on that. Shaheen is a special player. He does what the team needs of him. Very happy for him. We were 15 runs short. The way we bowled up front, we will create pressure. We bowled well with the new ball. More often that not you will win games if you bowl like this. We have been fielding well. Shane has been working hard on us. We have been having extra sessions. Mike Hesson said if you can't field, you won't be in the team. We are a good enough team to beat anyone. We will come back on Sunday and try and do that."

Special after beating Bangladesh, really. Only in Pakistan we have players who don't even qualify to be in the side but are made captains. Salman Agha not a genuine T20 player, not performing but is the Captain. Same is happening in test matches Shan Masood terrible stats , not performing, worst performance as a captain ever and yet he is the Captain.

 

[ElRaja]

When did they play afg in this tournament?..from when Bang and SL better T20 team when they rank below pakistan in ICC rankings...

prior to this tournament, pak beat afg comprehensively in the tri series. bang and SL havnt lost to the USA.

 

[jnaveen1980]

prior to this tournament, pak beat afg comprehensively in the tri series. bang and SL havnt lost to the USA.

Full strength Bangladesh lost a T20 series to USA.