Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has sent a message to the rest of the cricketing teams after a record-breaking win over New Zealand on Friday in the third T20I at the Eden Park in Auckland. Taking to X, Salman said their players not here to make up the numbers and the netizens wondered if it's a taunt to Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan.
Although Babar and Rizwan have played numerous match-winning knocks when they opened their innings in T20Is, they have tapered off in the last 18 months. Due to their dwindling form, the selectors dropped them for the five-game T20I series in New Zealand and selected youngsters in the side. With the tourists under pressure heading into the third T20I due to being 0-2 down, 22-year-old Hasan Nawaz showcased his ability at the top of the order.
The right-handed batter broke Babar's record of a 49-ball ton in T20Is by getting to the milestone only in 44 deliveries as Pakistan chased down 205 in 16 overs with nine wickets to spare. As a result, Salman Ali Agha wrote on X:
"My boys aren’t just here to make up the numbers. This is an inexperienced team but it’s a winners team if you back them. It’s your team,if you give them the support they need.Alhamdulillah for the win, much needed in keeping the series alive. Very very well played Hasan and Haris."
Here's how the netizens reacted to the all-rounder's statement:
"I had so much backing and I am so grateful to my captain" - Hasan Nawaz
Having scored an unbeaten 45-ball 105*, the 22-year-old was inevitably the Player of the Match. The youngster massively credited Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan for encouraging him despite scoring ducks in successive games.
"The way I got out in first two matches, I was very disheartened, but captain and Shadab supported me, told me I am a match winning player and that helped me. I just had in my mind that I need to score a single first in international cricket and then after that I felt relaxed and the pressure was released. I had so much backing and I am so grateful to my captain."
Pakistan and New Zealand will play in the fourth T20I on March 23 at the Mount Maunganui.
