Pakistan can beat Kiwis, says Agha

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan T20 captain Salman Ali Agha has said that the team’s fans’ disappointment was understandable after the recent failure in the Champions Trophy.

“They have all the right to be unhappy and disappointed at our recent performance. Even we are not happy about our performance in the Trophy. We think that we were unable to play our best cricket,” Salman said a day ahead of the start of the five-match T20 series against New Zealand in Christchurch.

He hoped to make amends by playing the best brand of cricket with the help of a new-look team. “We have got a young team with us. That does not mean that they are not capable of winning the series. Hopefully, they will put up a good show here. We are here to win against Kiwis and hopefully, we can do that.”

He predicted getting some spin out of the Christchurch pitch. “The surface where we are to play our opening game looks a greenish top but I think spinners will get something out of it.”

On Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan missing the T20 series despite being one of the most successful opening pairs, Salman Ali Agha said: “They have been more successful in T20 cricket than any other format but they were going through a bad patch which any player can face.”

On Shaheen Shah and Haris Rauf’s inclusion in the team for the T20 series, he said both have proved their worth more in T20 cricket than in any other format. “That is why they are selected. The pair has a role to play when it comes to T20 cricket and we are hopeful for their contribution.”

Pakistan T20 captain rued missing Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman’s services. “Both are down with injuries. We hope to see them back at the earliest. The pair’s inclusion at the top would be a big boost for Pakistan’s T20 fortunes.”

Saman Ali Agha hoped to carry the best performers to the Asia Cup and then the World Cup. “The bigger goal is to raise a winning combination for the Asia Cup and later for the World Cup. Our efforts will start from this series.”