DUBAI ( The COW News Digital) Pakistan cricket team captain Agha Salman has urged his side to improve their middle-order batting as they prepare for a crucial Super Four clash against India in the ongoing Asia Cup. Speaking to the media after Pakistan’s 41-run victory over the UAE, Salman acknowledged that the team had not yet played to its full potential.
“We still haven’t given our best performance,” Salman said. “Our middle-order needs to perform better. If we bat well in the middle overs, we can post scores of 170 against any team.”
Pakistan’s batting lineup managed 146 runs for nine wickets in their allotted 20 overs against the UAE, with opener Fakhar Zaman top-scoring with 50 runs. Salman emphasized that consistent middle-order contributions will be key to success against stronger opponents.
The captain also praised the team’s bowling unit, highlighting star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed. “Shaheen is a proven match-winner for us, and Abrar has been consistently delivering in every game,” he added.
On the other side, UAE captain Muhammad Waseem credited his bowlers for restricting Pakistan to a modest total but admitted that his team fell short in the chase. “We gained valuable experience even though we are out of the tournament,” Waseem said.
Pakistan bowled out UAE for 105 runs in 17.4 overs, with Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mohammad Nawaz picking up two wickets each. The win secured Pakistan’s place in the Super Four stage, setting up high-stakes matches against Asian giants India, Sri Lanka, and potentially Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the next fixture in the tournament will see Afghanistan take on Sri Lanka in a must-win encounter for both sides as they seek to join Pakistan and India in the Super Four.
