Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha is optimistic that his team has “saved their best” for the highly anticipated Asia Cup final against India, scheduled for Sunday. Despite facing heavy defeats in their last two encounters against India in Dubai, Salman expressed confidence in his team’s ability to bounce back in the high-pressure match.
“There is always a lot of pressure when Pakistan and India play each other. Saying there is no pressure would be wrong. Both teams feel the same amount of pressure,” Salman said at the pre-final press conference in Dubai. “We have made more mistakes than them in the past, and that’s why we lost. If we make fewer mistakes tomorrow, we will win. Whichever team makes fewer mistakes will emerge victorious, and our focus will be on minimizing errors.”
He further added, “Inshallah, you will see us winning tomorrow. Our goal is to play our best cricket. If we execute our plans for 40 overs, we can beat any team. We’ll give it our all.”
The Asia Cup has made headlines both on and off the field, from Sahibzada Farhan’s gun celebration to Haris Rauf’s boundary-line gestures, both of which led to ICC sanctions, as well as Suryakumar Yadav’s political remarks. Addressing these issues, Salman defended his players’ right to express themselves within acceptable limits.
“It depends on the individual; everyone has their own style. If someone wants to be aggressive on the field, why not? Taking aggression out of a fast bowler leaves them ineffective. Every player knows how to handle their emotions. As a captain, I give players the freedom to express themselves, as long as they don’t disrespect anyone or the country,” Salman explained.
He also expressed disappointment over the absence of post-match handshakes between the teams during this tournament. “I’ve been playing cricket since 2007, and I’ve never seen a situation where teams don’t shake hands. Even my father, who has followed cricket for over 20 years, said it’s unprecedented. Handshakes have always been a part of cricket, even when India-Pakistan relations were at their worst. Not having them isn’t good for the game.”
On the captains’ traditional pre-match trophy photoshoot, Salman maintained a lighthearted tone. “It’s their wish. If they want to join, they can; if they don’t, that’s fine too. We’ll follow our protocol. What else can we do?!”
Regarding the external noise surrounding India-Pakistan matches, Salman emphasized focusing on what the team can control. “There is no specific message for the players. We cannot control what happens outside the ground. The media and public opinions are beyond our control, and they don’t matter to us. Our focus is to play good cricket and win the Asia Cup. That’s our ultimate goal.”
As Pakistan prepares for the final showdown, Salman’s message is clear: stay composed, execute plans, and aim to deliver their best cricket when it matters most.
