Salman Agha: 'If you deprive a fast bowler of their aggression, then what's left?'
Key Takeaways
- Pakistan captain Salman Agha supports his team's aggression provided it remains within acceptable boundaries.
- The Asia Cup final is set up to be highly charged following recent conduct breaches by players from both India and Pakistan.
- Agha condemned the recent refusal by the Indian team to shake hands, calling it unprecedented and bad for cricket.
- Agha acknowledged the unique and significant pressure inherent in a final against India.
- Despite leading the team to the final, Captain Agha admitted his own batting performance in the tournament has been personally disappointing.
Ahead of the Asia Cup final against India, Pakistan captain Salman Agha stated he fully backs his team's aggressive approach on the field, as long as it does not cross into disrespect. This stance suggests another highly charged encounter, building on recent history where players from both teams faced ICC code of conduct penalties after their last meeting. Agha was particularly critical of the unprecedented refusal by the Indian team to shake hands before or after the previous match, noting that handshakes historically occurred even during more tense geopolitical periods. While India has tried to downplay the significance of the rivalry recently, Agha acknowledged the unique pressure associated with a Pakistan-India final, though his team's focus remains strictly on winning the trophy. On a personal note, Agha admitted his own batting performance has been subpar during the tournament, despite successfully guiding the team to only their second Asia Cup final in eleven years, while the team's bowling has often compensated for the batting's low totals.
