Pakistan will play minnows Oman in their first Group A match in Dubai on Friday in an attempt to hone their skills before the highly anticipated Asia Cup clash against India.
Pakistan head into the tournament on a high, having clinched the T20 Tri-Series with a commanding 75-run win over Afghanistan in the final. Mohammad Nawaz’s hat-trick capped off the dominant performance in a competition that also featured the UAE. Ranked eighth in the world, Pakistan will now look to build momentum and gain crucial experience ahead of their much-anticipated clash with arch-rivals India.
However, Pakistan captain Salman Agha missed a significant portion of Wednesday’s training session at the ICC Academy in Dubai, raising a short-term injury concern. After suffering a minor spasm, the all-rounder, who will captain Pakistan against Oman on Friday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, was seen with a bandage over his neck.
Despite traveling with the team, Salman avoided warm-ups and minor football drills, according to reports on Geo News, while the other players underwent a rigorous physical regimen. His limited mobility caused concern in the camp, especially as Sunday’s crucial match against India drew near.
However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) downplayed the worries, emphasizing that the problem is small and only preventative. Salman is anticipated to resume full training soon, and the team’s management is still optimistic that their captain will be well enough to captain Pakistan in the upcoming pivotal Asia Cup 2025 matches.
Following the 2024 South Africa series, Pakistan moved on from former captains Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan and is rebuilding under coach Mike Hesson. After a tumultuous 18 months, Salman is now in charge of the team. Pakistan, who are optimistic about their chances, will play in the Asia Cup group stages against India, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman. This will be their first international competition without Babar and Rizwan.
“I think we are playing good cricket, we started that a few months ago. Things are coming together, as a team we are playing good cricket and looking forward to this tournament and everyone is very excited,” Salman had said in the pre-series press conference on Tuesday.
When asked if India is the tournament favorite, Salman responded that no team in T20 cricket can be regarded as a favorite because a single over or two can drastically alter the result.
“No one is favourite in a T20 game. In a space of 1 or 2 overs the match can change. The tri-series was a preparation for the Asia Cup and the mindset was always to win that tournament,” Salman added.
