Pakistan cricket team’s loss to India in the 2025 Asia Cup final has once again fuelled debate among cricket faithful about the possible return of stalwarts Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam to the T20I side, but current captain Salman Ali Agha does not agree with the notion.
Speaking during the press conference after the game, Salman Ali Agha rejected suggestions that the absence of those senior batters cost his side the final.
Addressing reporters after Pakistan’s defeat in Dubai, Salman Agha was asked whether he felt the team had missed the experience of the two veterans. His response was firm. Pakistan, he insisted, had already proven themselves as a balanced T20 side in recent months.
“This same team was scoring 170–180 runs,” Agha said. “Before the Asia Cup, we were doing well — we even won the tri-series and reached the Asia Cup final. It’s not about missing any individual, we just didn’t finish well today. We still think this is a good team.”
Pakistan, who fought their way to the final with victories over Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, fell just short against India in a high-pressure contest where their batting once again faltered. Without Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, the lineup struggled in nearly every match, with Salman Ali Agha himself enduring a torrid spell with the bat. The same issues resurfaced in the final, where Pakistan lost their last nine wickets for just 33 runs, handing India a decisive advantage.
Despite a spirited effort from Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Afridi, the total proved too little to defend.
The debate around Pakistan’s batting order and the role of established stars will likely continue in the lead-up to the T20I series against South Africa next month. There are murmurs that the PCB may recall Babar Azam for the series, and if Mohammad Haris’ Asia Cup run is anything to go by, Rizwan could be recalled as well, whether Salman Ali Agha agrees or not.
For now, Agha has made it clear that he sees enough talent and balance within the current squad to compete without relying on past mainstays.
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Salman seems extra in the team
Claim all you want . You lost 3 times to india . The fact that after this humiliation thru can even talk is Shameful..
There is no place of Salman agha n haris in the team, rauf should only be used in sina not in slow pitches we need amir Jamal
Hahaha
Salman ali agha dont deserve to be a part of team shame on pakistani selectors the player
Who dont deserve to b a part of team is a captain…and secondly that tape bowlers haris perchi my God how could u select him in team like how ..u playing with immature captincy and immature team .this team need to b change