Salman Agha Flags Middle-Order Weakness Before Asia Cup Super 4 Showdown

Pakistan captain Salman Agha expressed concerns over his team’s inconsistent middle-order batting following a 41-run victory over a youthful UAE side in their final Asia Cup group stage match on Wednesday. Despite securing a spot in the Super 4s, where they face arch-rivals India on Sunday, Agha emphasised the need for improved performances to elevate Pakistan’s totals beyond the modest 146 for nine they managed, driven largely by Fakhar Zaman’s 50 off 36 balls and Shaheen Shah Afridi’s unbeaten 29 off 14.

“Our middle order remains a concern,” Agha admitted during the post-match presentation. “We haven’t batted at our best yet… we’re still just finding our way to 150. If we bat well in the middle overs, we can push it to 170 no matter the opposition.” Pakistan’s top order faltered again, with Mohammad Haris scoring 18, leaving the lower order to salvage the innings against UAE’s disciplined bowling. Agha, however, praised his bowlers for defending the total, with spinners Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem proving decisive on a spin-friendly Dubai International Stadium pitch.

UAE captain Muhammad Waseem, reflecting on the defeat, lauded his bowlers for restricting Pakistan but pinpointed batting failures, particularly losing three wickets in the powerplay, as the turning point. “We were going well until the 15th or 16th over but then lost our way,” Waseem said, urging his middle order to take greater responsibility. He viewed the match as a learning opportunity, noting that facing powerhouses like Pakistan and India offered valuable lessons for his developing squad ahead of future tournaments.

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Agha remains optimistic about Pakistan’s prospects, citing their resilience over the past four months, including a morale-boosting win over India earlier in the tournament marred by controversy over a post-match handshake refusal following a Pahalgam terror attack. With the Super 4s promising high-stakes encounters, Pakistan’s ability to address their batting frailties will be critical. The team’s recent T20 record—winning 12 of 18 matches in 2025—offers confidence, but Agha stressed consistency as key to challenging India’s formidable lineup led by Suryakumar Yadav.

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