Pakistan white-ball staff vice-captain Salman Ali Agha addressing the media individuals on the Melbourne Cricket Floor (MCG). — Reporter
KARACHI: Pakistan all-rounder Salman Ali Agha confused the significance of changing begins into huge scores and sustaining consistency after his staff’s defeat in opposition to New Zealand within the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy on Wednesday.
Talking at a press convention, Agha admitted Pakistan fell brief in all departments however vowed to regroup for his or her essential upcoming match in opposition to arch-rivals India.
“We need to convert our 30s and 40s into bigger scores,” Agha mentioned. “If we want to become one of the top teams in the world, we have to bring consistency in our performances.”
Chasing a goal of 321, Pakistan struggled to construct partnerships and momentum all through their innings. Agha identified the staff’s failure to capitalise on batting-friendly situations.
“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 mentioned.
The absence of opener Fakhar Zaman, who couldn’t take his common place on the high of the order, additional 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 personal efficiency, Agha acknowledged he may have prolonged his innings to make a better affect. “I could have played a longer innings. If I had stayed longer, the result might have been different,” he mentioned.
Agha emphasised the significance of bettering powerplay performances, particularly when chasing huge 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.
Regardless of the loss, Agha remained centered on the subsequent problem: a high-stakes match in opposition to India. “We will put this match behind us and take the field with full determination for the India game,” he mentioned.
Agha additionally highlighted the necessity for steady enchancment to compete with the world’s greatest groups. “To beat top teams in the world, we need to play well consistently,” he mentioned.
