Just days after his head coach Mike Hesson took a shot at the pitches on offer in Dhaka during the Pakistan-Bangladesh T20I series, the team captain Salman Ali Agha has echoed similar sentiments, but focused on the broader issue.
Salman Ali Agha raised serious questions about the nature of pitches at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, saying they were not conducive to meaningful preparation ahead of high-stakes events like the Asia Cup and ICC World Cup. Speaking at the post-match press conference following Pakistan’s consolation victory in the final T20I against Bangladesh, Salman was frank about the challenges posed by the sluggish and spin-friendly surfaces in Mirpur, which dominated the three-match series.
“If anyone asks me whether this series helped us prepare for the Asia Cup or the World Cup, I would say no,” the captain admitted. “These conditions don’t resemble anything we’re likely to encounter in future tournaments. I haven’t seen such pitches anywhere outside Bangladesh.”
Despite his criticism, Salman Agha was careful to clarify that his comments weren’t intended as complaints, but rather as an honest reflection on the limitations these wickets pose for competitive readiness.
“I’m not here to make excuses or blame the pitch,” he added. “We are professionals and must adapt to any conditions. But realistically, these wickets aren’t ideal for preparing for major tournaments where conditions will differ significantly.”
The upcoming Asia Cup is set to take place in the UAE, while Pakistan’s matches of the T20 World Cup will likely be in Sri Lanka, with those countries offering much different playing strips than the ones in Bangladesh.
Pakistan’s high-risk batting approach failed to bear fruit in two of the three matches in Dhaka, underlining the fault with the surfaces rather than the team’s approach. Both Salman Ali Agha and his team will be hoping to get things back on track against the West Indies in the coming days.
The team will also get a chance to finalise the playing combination during a tri-nation series before the Asia Cup, hopefully on surfaces that suit their style of play.
The conditions in Dhaka are a thing of the past, and the real test of Salman Ali Agha’s credentials will begin in September with the Asia Cup on the line.
World Cup and Asia Cup pitches will be made through consultation of Mr. Salman Agha :-)