Rawalpindi, November 17, 2025: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has reaffirmed his commitment to providing emerging cricketers with “maximum chances” during the upcoming T20I tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, set to begin on Wednesday.
Speaking at the pre-series press conference, Agha said that while Pakistan’s foremost priority would be to win matches, the team management would also aim to expose as many young players as possible to international cricket.
“Out of the 15 players we have, the strive would be to give everyone the opportunity,” Agha said. “But at the end of the day, our first priority is to win matches because we cannot take any team lightly in T20I cricket. So yes, winning comes first — and we will still try to give players maximum chances.”
Pakistan made only one change to the squad that faced South Africa last month, with Abdul Samad replacing Hasan Nawaz, who has struggled for form, failing to reach double figures in his last six T20I innings since scoring 56 against the UAE in Sharjah in September.
Addressing concerns over the middle-order, Agha acknowledged recent shortcomings and hinted at Samad’s potential involvement.
“Our middle order has not been performing the way we want. Hasan Nawaz is not here, but I believe he will return soon. We have Abdul Samad now, and perhaps we can give him an opportunity since he also bats at number six and can play the finisher’s role,” he said.
Agha emphasized that the tri-series is part of Pakistan’s broader preparation for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, adding that the team is focused on building a balanced combination ahead of the global event.
He also praised the team’s all-rounders, particularly Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Nawaz:
“When you have all-rounders who can bowl four overs, why not use them?”
Pakistan will open the tri-series against Zimbabwe in the curtain-raiser, followed by their clash with Sri Lanka on November 22. Each side will play four league matches, with the top two teams competing in the final on November 29.
