All efforts aimed at T20 World Cup: Agha

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan clinched a competitive three-match T20 International series against the West Indies 2-1, sealing the decider with a 13-run victory in Florida, a win that captain Salman Ali Agha described as a stepping stone toward the country’s ultimate goal: a formidable showing at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in February.

Speaking at the post-match media interaction, Salman made it clear that Pakistan’s recent white-ball assignments including the series against Bangladesh and the just-concluded West Indies T20s are part of a deliberate strategy to fine-tune a winning combination for the mega global event.

“Our focus is to prepare a combination capable of putting up a decent fight in the World Cup. We are in the process of raising a winning unit for the mega event. The series against Bangladesh and now against West Indies is an effort in that direction,” Salman said with intent.

The Pakistan captain admitted that the team management is experimenting with various player combinations to find the most effective mix. “We are trying to make the best of the available resources. All these efforts are aimed at identifying a core group of players who can deliver under pressure,” he added. Salman expressed satisfaction with the series result, especially praising the opening duo of Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan, who laid the foundation for Pakistan’s victory in the third and final T20. “The wicket in the third match was far better than what we experienced in the first two games. The ball was coming onto the bat nicely, and we felt a 190-run target would be tough to chase even under these conditions. Once Saim and Farhan gave us that explosive start, we were confident of posting a competitive total,” the skipper said.

He also showered praise on bowlers Sufiyan Muqeem and Haris Rauf, who held their nerve during crucial moments in the West Indies innings. “Both Sufiyan and Haris bowled with courage when it mattered most. Their spells were instrumental in tilting the game in our favour as the ball started gripping later in the match.” When asked about Pakistan’s upcoming challenges namely the Tri-Nation Series and the Asia Cup, Salman said he is looking forward to the UAE conditions, which traditionally offer better surfaces for stroke play.

“I believe the wickets in Dubai and Sharjah will be more batter-friendly than what we encountered in Florida. The pitches here posed several challenges. I’m confident the team will enter the Asia Cup and Tri-Series with more rhythm and momentum.” Interestingly, Salman chose not to roll his arm over in the final T20, despite being known for his handy off-breaks. Asked about the decision, he explained it was a tactical call.

“I did consider bowling at one point, but Saim and Sufiyan were doing a fine job. I usually enjoy bowling against left-handers and you’ll see me bowling more regularly in upcoming matches,” he hinted.