Pakistan captain Salman Agha expressed confidence on Saturday in his team’s readiness to face India in the upcoming T20 World Cup match, despite the last-minute confirmation of the game. The highly anticipated encounter has already attracted a full house at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, with a vast viewership expected worldwide.
The decision for the match to proceed was finalized late on Monday after a reversal of the Islamabad government’s initial directive to boycott the Group A fixture. Agha emphasized the significance of the match, acknowledging the immense scale of the event during the team’s practice session at the stadium.
Following a narrow victory over the Netherlands and a convincing win against the United States in their previous matches, Pakistan enters the game with positive momentum. Agha expressed optimism about their familiarity with the Colombo conditions, underscoring the need for excellent cricket to secure a victory.
While the match faces a potential threat from adverse weather conditions, Agha highlighted the potential impact of spin bowling, identifying Tariq Usman as a key asset against India’s formidable batting lineup. Dismissing concerns regarding the legality of Tariq’s bowling action, Agha reiterated the confidence in his player’s abilities.
Emphasizing the spirit of sportsmanship, Agha hoped for a handshake between players, contrasting the lack of such gestures during their previous encounters in the Asia Cup. The victor of the match will secure a spot in the subsequent Super Eights round, with India monitoring the fitness of opener Abhishek Sharma, who is recovering from illness.
Expressing goodwill towards their opponents, Agha wished for Sharma’s swift recovery, underscoring the team’s desire to compete against the best.