Agha Draws Line on Fitness as Pakistan Prepare for World Cup Opener

COLOMBO: Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha has made it clear that reputation alone will not guarantee a place in the playing XI, stressing that only fully fit players will be selected for Saturday’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup opener against the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.

Speaking to the media ahead of the match, Agha underlined that team balance and match readiness will take precedence over seniority when finalising the lineup.

He said the squad was chosen carefully to provide the strongest possible combination and that no compromises would be made if a player is carrying fitness concerns — regardless of experience.

“We have selected 15 players because we believe they give us the best possible mix,” Agha explained. “If someone, even a senior player like Babar Azam or Fakhar Zaman, is not fully fit, then they won’t be considered. Our focus is always on what benefits the team most.”

While acknowledging the long-standing contributions of senior figures, the captain reiterated that decisions would be made purely on performance and fitness.

“Fakhar has served Pakistan for nearly a decade, and Babar has done the same. We stand by them completely, but when it comes to the playing XI, we will choose what gives us the best chance of winning,” he added.

Responding to questions surrounding Usman Tariq’s bowling action, Agha dismissed any concerns and expressed full faith in the player.

“Our management has complete confidence in him,” he said. “He has already been cleared twice, and I don’t see why this topic keeps coming up. What matters now is what he delivers on the field.”

Agha also voiced frustration over off-field discussions dominating press conferences, insisting that the focus should remain on cricket.

“Too often, conversations drift away from the game, which isn’t healthy,” he said. “Usman Tariq is an X-factor for us, and we want attention to stay on performances rather than unnecessary debates.”

Speaking about Babar Azam, Agha highlighted the batter’s importance to Pakistan’s plans, particularly in local conditions, and praised his efforts to evolve his game.

“Babar is a key player for us here, and he is constantly working on increasing his strike rate,” the captain noted. “As a team, we are focused entirely on cricket and avoid distractions.”

The 32-year-old expressed confidence in the squad’s mindset, stating that past results were not weighing on the players.

“There’s no pressure from previous matches,” he said. “We’re taking it one game at a time and aiming to win every match. Our preparation has been solid, and over the past six months we’ve played good cricket.”

Confirming his own role in the batting order, Agha said he would continue at number three.

“I’m comfortable at number three and performing well there, so there’s no reason to make a change,” he stated.

He concluded by addressing external factors such as weather, saying the team’s focus remains firmly on controllable aspects.

“We can’t control the weather,” he said. “What we can control is our performance. If we play to our potential and win our matches, net run rate won’t be a concern.”