Lahore, Jan 30 — Pakistan has signaled a potential new batting order heading into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with captain Salman Ali Agha officially confirming he will bat at the crucial No.3 position.
During the first T20I against Australia, Ali Agha demonstrated his readiness for the role, scoring an aggressive 39 runs and helping Pakistan secure a 22-run victory. Although he has traditionally batted lower in the order, Ali Agha recently pushed himself up the batting lineup to provide a more attacking option, especially against spin.
The right-hander stated, “Yes, I’ll be batting at No.3 in the future. We expect to face a lot of spin, and I believe I can dominate spin during the Powerplay. That’s why I moved up, and that is where I’ll stay.”
Ali Agha’s promotion to No.3 also implies a possible shift for Babar Azam, who batted at No.4 during the match, scoring 24 runs. The opening game saw Saim Ayub shine as Player of the Match, scoring 40 and leading Pakistan’s total of 168/8 after opting to bat first at Gaddafi Stadium. Australia, in reply, struggled against Pakistan’s spinners, losing six wickets and falling short of the target.
Reflecting on the game, Ali Agha said, “It was a great game. We started well but couldn’t finish as planned. Things got challenging after the first 10 overs, but I think our bowling was outstanding. I felt 170 was enough, and with the quality of our spin attack, I knew it would be a good total.”
Meanwhile, Australia’s stand-in captain Travis Head acknowledged areas to improve but remained optimistic. “There are positives and things to work on,” Head said. “We have two more opportunities before heading to Sri Lanka for the World Cup, and we want to keep improving.”
Pakistan’s strategic shift in the batting order underscores their preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which kicks off on February 7.