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Salman Ali Agha to Bat at No.3 for Pakistan in T20 World Cup

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has confirmed he will bat at the crucial No.3 position for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup. He believes the role suits his style, allowing him to target quick runs against opposition spinners during the Powerplay. His promotion up the order means former skipper Babar Azam will likely take on a new batting role. Agha's decision follows a successful outing at first drop, where he scored 39 in Pakistan's 22-run victory over Australia.

Key Points: Pakistan's Salman Ali Agha Confirms No.3 Role for T20 WC

  • Agha confirms No.3 role for T20 WC
  • Promoted to provide attacking option
  • Aims to dominate spin in Powerplay
  • Babar Azam likely to face new role
  • Pakistan beat Australia in series opener
2 min read

Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha confirms he will bat at No.3 during T20 WC

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha confirms he will bat at No.3 to dominate spin in the Powerplay during the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.

"I believe I can dominate spin during the Powerplay. That's why I moved up, and that is where I'll stay. - Salman Ali Agha"

New Delhi, January 30

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha confirmed that he will bat at No.3 for the side during the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

Ali Agha has mostly batted later in Pakistan's top six across his T20I career, but recently, he has taken it upon himself to move up to the crucial No.3 position to provide a more attacking option for the team.

The powerful right-hander appeared in good touch at first drop against Australia in the opening T20I of their three-match series in Lahore on Thursday, contributing a quickfire innings of 39 as Pakistan recorded an impressive 22-run triumph just days out from the start of the T20 World Cup.

And Ali Agha later confirmed he would remain at No.3 for the rest of the series against Australia and the start of the T20 World Cup, as he believes it suits his style of game to target quick runs from opposition spinners.

"Yes, I'll be batting at No.3 (in the future)," Ali Agha said.

"We expect to face a lot of spin, and I believe I can dominate spin during the Powerplay. That's why I moved up, and that is where I'll stay," he added.

Ali Agha's promotion up the order means Babar Azam will most likely also face a new role, with the former Pakistan skipper managing 24 runs from 20 deliveries against the Aussies after coming into bat at No.4.

It was left to opener and Player of the Match Saim Ayub (40) to do the majority of the damage for Pakistan as they compiled 168/8 from their 20 overs after they elected to bat first at Gaddafi Stadium, with the Aussies losing six wickets to spin in reply as their run chase fell short.

"It was a great game," Ali Agha added.

"We started well with the bat but couldn't finish the way we wanted. It became challenging after the first 10 overs as the ball stopped coming onto the bat, but I think we were outstanding with the ball. To be honest, I felt 170 was enough. Given how we were placed after 10 overs, we probably could have scored 15 more, but I knew 170 would be plenty on this pitch because our spin bowling is outstanding," he concluded.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
From a purely cricketing perspective, it's smart to have your power-hitter target spinners early. The conditions in the West Indies and USA might suit this strategy. Saim Ayub looked good too. Pakistan's spin attack is always strong, so defending 170 is very possible for them.
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Ananya R
Honestly, I'm more concerned about our own team's combination! But fair play to Salman Ali Agha for taking on the responsibility. A stable No. 3 is crucial in T20s. Hope he does well (just not against India, please! 😅).
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Vikram M
They beat Australia, so confidence will be high. This shuffle could work. But as an Indian fan, I remember when we tinkered too much before a big tournament. Sometimes you just need to stick with your best players in their best positions. Babar at 4 feels odd.
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Karthik V
The mind games before a World Cup have begun. Every team is trying to find that perfect balance. Pakistan's spin bowling is indeed outstanding - that's their real strength. If their batting clicks around this new order, they will be a serious threat.
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Michael C
Respect for the captain putting his hand up for a tough role. The No. 3 has to adapt quickly, facing anything from the last ball of the powerplay to rebuilding after an early wicket. His 39 was a good start. The World Cup is looking more exciting by the day!

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