Pakistan's Salman Agha Credits Domestic Cricket for Form Turnaround
Salman Agha led Pakistan to victory in their tri-series opener against Sri Lanka with a century, crediting his domestic cricket performances for the turnaround.
Pakistan batter Salman Agha has attributed his recent form surge to his performances in domestic cricket.
He scored an unbeaten triple-century and a hundred in the President's Trophy Grade-I competition, which helped him regain his place in the national team. Agha's century against Sri Lanka in the tri-series opener earned him the Player of the Match award, International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement.
Agha expressed his frustration with the tendency to downplay domestic cricket achievements, saying it's not easy to score runs at that level. He emphasized the importance of respecting domestic cricket, citing his own journey and that of Saud Shakeel as examples. Agha had a disappointing spell with the T20I and Test teams but worked hard to improve his game during his time away.
The 32-year-old batter acknowledged the pressure of international cricket but said it didn't affect him drastically. He noted that regaining form takes time, and his recent success was a result of his hard work. Pakistan's next match is against England in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.
The tri-series schedule is as follows: October 18: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Rawalpindi (Pakistan won by 37 runs); October 20: Pakistan vs England, Rawalpindi; October 22: Sri Lanka vs England, Rawalpindi; October 25: Pakistan vs England, Lahore; October 27: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Lahore; October 29: Sri Lanka vs England, Lahore; October 31: Final, Lahore.
Pakistan's domestic cricket system has produced several talented players, and Agha's success highlights its importance. The country's cricket team has faced challenges in recent years, making Agha's turnaround a significant boost.