Pakistan cricket team captain Salman Ali Agha addressed a press conference in Colombo today, Saturday, February 14, setting the tone for what he described as a “top-tier” encounter against archrivals India scheduled for tomorrow.
Salman Ali Agha staunchly defended spinner Usman Tariq, whose bowling action has been a point of contention in the media.
“Usman Tariq is our trump card; it now depends on how he performs. There has been constant talk about his bowling action, but he has been cleared twice already. I don’t understand why his action is still being questioned, but these discussions do not affect him at all. We cannot stop anyone’s opinion; everyone is entitled to theirs.”
The captain expressed full confidence in the star batter and voiced his frustration over the repetitive questioning regarding Babar.
“Babar Azam is scoring runs, and it is not a cause for concern for us. I hope he scores big tomorrow as well. My wish is to attend a press conference where I am not asked about Babar. For me, all 15 players in the squad are important, and anyone can play.”
India’s World Cup Record
Acknowledging the historical 7-1 dominance India holds over Pakistan in T20 World Cup history, Salman remained focused on the future.
“Our record against India in World Cups hasn’t been great, but we have learned from history. We will strive to play our best tomorrow. Every day is a new day, and we are fully prepared to play good cricket.”
Match Strategy & Conditions
With weather forecasts threatening the match, the captain revealed they are ready for a shortened game.
“We cannot control the rain. If the overs are reduced, we already have a plan in place for that situation.”
The final Playing XI will be decided only after assessing the pitch and weather conditions tomorrow.
Showing sportsman spirit, Salman expressed hope that India’s Abhishek Sharma (who has been reportedly unwell) recovers in time for the game.
