Did Salman Agha take dig at Babar and Rizwan? Details
What's the story
Fans perceived Pakistan's T20I captain Salman Ali Agha's comments as a subtle dig at senior players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan after his team registered a thumping win over New Zealand.
Under Agha's captaincy, Pakistan chased down a target of 205 runs in 16 overs.
The win not only kept the five-match T20I series alive but also showed a new aggressive brand of cricket the team wants to play after recent ICC tournament failures.
Here's more.
Team spirit
Agha's statement on team's potential
After the third T20I victory, Agha took to social media platform X to share his thoughts on his team.
He wrote, "My boys aren't just here to make up the numbers."
He further stressed that this young team can become champions with proper backing.
"This is an inexperienced team, but it's a winners team if you back them," he added in his post.
Match highlights
Agha praises team's performance
In his post, Agha also lauded the players for their brilliant performance.
He wrote, "Alhamdulillah for the win, much needed in keeping the series alive. Very, very well played Hasan and Haris."
The team's successful chase was spearheaded by a brilliant century from 22-year-old Hasan Nawaz and solid contributions from opener Mohammad Haris (41 off 20) and captain Agha himself (51* off 31).
Speculation
Agha's remarks spark speculation about senior players
Agha's comments have fueled speculation among fans, who see them as a dig at senior players Babar and Rizwan.
Under their captaincy, the team failed to evolve with the changing face of white-ball cricket.
This failure to keep up with the times resulted in Pakistan's early exit from the group stages of both ODI and T20 World Cups in 2023 and 2024.
Series outlook
Pakistan's upcoming challenges in T20I series
Despite their recent victory, Agha's T20I side still has a long way to go in the New Zealand series.
Currently trailing 1-2 after three matches, they will need to display remarkable resilience and determination to turn the series around.
The team's performance in the remaining matches will be crucial in determining their fate in this five-match T20I series against New Zealand.