Pakistani Salman Ali Agha (Photo AP) NEW DELHI: As the cricketing world waits for the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) final confirmation of the team’s participation in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, captain Salman Ali Agha has removed at least one uncertainty by firmly fixing his batting position for the global event.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Pakistan are due to fly to Colombo early on February 2, a move that has been widely interpreted as a strong signal that the team will participate in the tournament, which is co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7. A source close to the leadership told PTI that all travel arrangements are already in place, making a last-minute boycott highly unlikely.
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Even as political and administrative tensions continue, Salman made it clear that plans on the ground are already taking shape. After Pakistan’s opening T20I win over Australia in Lahore, the captain confirmed that he will bat at No.3 during the World Cup.“Yes, I will bat at No. 3. We expect to face a lot of spin and I believe I can dominate the spin during the power-play. That is why I have moved up and I will stay there,” Salman said, according to ICC.The decision marks a significant shift for the right-hander, who has traditionally batted lower down the order in T20Is. His promotion was on display against Australia where he played a fluent 39 at No.3 to anchor Pakistan’s innings in their 22-run victory.
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Salman admitted that Pakistan could have gone further with the bat but expressed confidence in his bowling unit. “We started well, but we couldn’t finish the way we wanted. After the first 10 overs, the ball stopped getting on the bat,” he said. “To be honest, I felt 170 was enough. Our spin bowling is excellent and I knew it was going to be tough for them.”Pakistan defended 168 successfully, with the Australian batsmen struggling with spin and losing six wickets in the chase.After Bangladesh’s elimination from the tournament, off-field speculation about Pakistan’s participation continued. But insiders insist the PCB’s approach is rooted in protecting the long-term interests of Pakistan cricket and maintaining relations with the ICC.
