Salman Agha stresses converting starts into big scores after defeat against New Zealand

KARACHI: Pakistan all-rounder Salman Ali Agha Wednesday stressed the need for consistency and converting starts into big scores after the team’s defeat against New Zealand in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy here.

Speaking at a press conference, he admitted Pakistan fell short in all departments but vowed to regroup for the crucial upcoming match against India.

“We need to convert our 30s and 40s into bigger scores,” Agha said. “If we want to become one of the top teams in the world, we have to bring consistency in our performances.”

Pakistan, chasing a target of 321, struggled to build partnerships and momentum throughout their innings. Agha pointed out the team’s failure to capitalise on the batting-friendly conditions. “On this wicket, 300-plus was achievable, but we didn’t get a good start in batting. We couldn’t build partnerships or momentum, and our powerplay performance was also below par,” he said.

The absence of opener Fakhar Zaman, who couldn’t come to his regular position to open the innings, further dented Pakistan’s run chase. “Fakhar’s absence at the start affected our powerplay. Had he been there, our start and subsequent position could have been different,” Agha added.

Reflecting on his own performance, Agha acknowledged he could have extended his innings to make a greater impact. “I could have played a longer innings. If I had stayed longer, the result might have been different,” he said.

Agha stressed the importance of improving powerplay performances, especially when chasing big totals. “To chase 320, you need to do well in the powerplay. Today, we didn’t perform well in any department and couldn’t meet the expectations,” he admitted.

Despite the loss, Agha remained focused on the next challenge: a high-stakes match against arch-rivals India. “We will put this match behind us and take the field with full determination for the India game,” he said.

Pakistan’s all-rounder also highlighted the need for continuous improvement to compete with the world’s best teams. “To beat top teams in the world, we need to play well consistently,” Agha said.