Pakistan captain Salman Agha has declared his side fully prepared to face arch-rivals India in the Super Fours stage of the Asia Cup, setting the stage for another highly anticipated clash. The Green Shirts secured their place with a 41-run victory over the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, joining India and two Group B teams in the round robin format.
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Last week’s group-stage encounter between Pakistan and India ended in controversy when the Indian players refused post-match handshakes. Despite the tension, Salman remains focused on performance rather than distractions. “We are ready, we are ready for any challenge. We just want to play good cricket,” he said after the win.
Bilateral cricket between the two nations has been suspended since 2013, limiting their meetings to multi-team tournaments. Their most recent clash saw India cruise to a seven-wicket win, with skipper Suryakumar Yadav dedicating the victory to the armed forces, an act the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) viewed as politicising the sport.
Pakistan’s batting, however, continues to be an area of concern. Fakhar Zaman’s 50 stood out, but opener Saim Ayub fell for his third consecutive duck, and the middle order faltered again. Salman admitted the need for improvement: “We got the job done, but we still need to improve our batting in the middle order.”
The PCB had earlier lodged a protest against match referee Andy Pycroft, alleging he instructed Salman not to shake hands with Yadav before the toss. While a withdrawal from the tournament was considered, the controversy was resolved when Pycroft apologised to Pakistan’s captain and management before the UAE match.
With Pakistan and India potentially set to meet not only in the Super Fours but also in the September 28 final, the stakes are rising. Salman’s call for sharper batting will be critical if Pakistan hopes to overcome their rivals in what promises to be another fiercely contested battle.
