Pakistan captain Salman Ali Aga opened up about the concerns over the team’s recent form after the third and final T20I against South Africa in Lahore. Aga said that despite losing the series to Bangladesh and finishing runners-up in the Asia Cup 2025, the winning percentage of the Men in Green is still strong.
Despite losing the first match of the series, Pakistan secured a 2–1 series win over South Africa. The home team won the trophy by registering two consecutive wins. In the final match, Pakistan achieved the target of 140 runs with six wickets and six balls remaining. Babar Azam was named player of the match for his half-century.
We lost the series to Bangladesh and played the Asia Cup final – Salman Ali Aga
In the press conference after the match, Salman Ali Aga was asked about Pakistan’s recent form and the criticism related to it. He acknowledged the series loss to Bangladesh and finishing runner-up in the Asia Cup, but also said that the overall morale of the team remains positive.
“Sir, we lost the series to Bangladesh and played the Asia Cup final. So, there is definitely a story that the team’s performance is not good. But if you look at the facts, our win ratio is 70. Any team that is number one in the world has that kind of ratio,” the Pakistan captain said.
Don’t think that there will be any big change this time – Salman Ali Aga
Salman Ali Aga said the team will need to adjust to low-scoring pitches during the upcoming World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.
He expects the total to remain around 140-150, especially in the latter stages, similar to the conditions seen in Sri Lanka during the 2012 and 2014 editions.
“I don’t think there will be 170 or 180 matches; you will see scores of 140 or 150. Yes, maybe in the beginning, 160 or 170, but as you get to the business end, you will get matches like 140-150. I remember the World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2012 or 2014, which West Indies won, was also like that; the last game It was around 130-140. I don’t think there will be any big change this time,” Agha said.
“It depends on how the pitch is behaving. If the pitch is a 140-run pitch, it would be foolish to try to make it a score of 180-190.”
Pakistan gave a crushing defeat to South Africa at home
Pakistan bowlers restricted South Africa to 139 runs for 9 wickets in 20 overs. Shaheen Shah Afridi set the tone by dismissing Quinton de Kock and Luan-Dre Pretorius for a duck.
Reeza Hendricks (34 runs on 36 balls), Donovan Ferreira (29 runs on 14 balls) and Corbin Bosch (30 not out on 23 balls) played important roles for the visiting team.
Saim Ayub was out for zero, but Babar Azam and Sahibzada Farhan added 36 runs. Babar and Aga made the target within reach by making a partnership of 76 runs. Both set batsmen fell in quick succession, leaving Pakistan’s score at 133 runs for 6 wickets.
With only seven runs needed from 10 balls, Faheem Ashraf and Usman Khan kept their composure to complete the chase with six wickets remaining.
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