DUBAI: Pakistan T20 cricket team captain Salman Ali Agha said on Saturday that they will give their best in the Asia Cup T20 final against India.
Speaking at a press conference in Dubai, Salman referred to controversies with the Indian team, saying: “I have been playing professional cricket since 2007, and I have never seen two teams not shake hands. Even my father, who is a huge cricket fan, has never told me of such an incident in the past. From what I know, it has never happened before. Whenever matches have taken place, players have always shaken hands.”
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“India and Pakistan have played before under perhaps even more tense circumstances, yet the players shook hands. So I don’t think refusing to shake hands is good for cricket,” he said.
About the final, Salman said both teams would face equal pressure. “We will try to perform well and win the match. What Indian media says doesn’t concern us; they can say whatever they want.”
Commenting on Pakistan’s two defeats to India in the tournament, he said: “In Pakistan-India matches, there is always pressure. We made more mistakes than them, which is why we couldn’t win. Matches between the two sides are decided by which team makes fewer mistakes, and tomorrow we’ll try to minimise ours.”
Asked about his personal performance and strike rate in the T20 Asia Cup, Salman admitted: “My performance hasn’t been what it should be, and I’m aware of that. I’m working on it. Strike rate matters in T20s, but at the end of the day, what really matters is the situation and what’s best for the team.”
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On team selection for the final, the captain said it would depend on the pitch conditions. “Different matches are being played on different pitches, each one is unique. We’ll inspect the pitch first and then finalise the combination, because conditions matter a lot.”
When asked about controlling the emotions of Pakistani players, he responded: “Every player has their own way. If a bowler wants to show aggression on the ground, why not? If you take away aggression from a fast bowler, nothing remains. Every player knows how to handle his emotions, and as captain, I give them a free hand in how they conduct themselves on the field—so long as they keep the dignity of the country in mind.”