Rawalpindi (Sports Desk): Pakistan middle-order batter Salman Ali Agha has explained the reason behind his unique celebration after scoring a century in the opening match of the tri-nation ODI series against Sri Lanka, saying the gesture was dedicated solely to his son. He also stressed the need to give domestic cricket greater respect and importance.
In the opening ODI of the series played on Sunday, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 37 runs. Batting first, Pakistan were bowled out for 305 in 49.5 overs, with Salman Ali Agha scoring an impressive 107 off 90 balls. It was the fourth century of his ODI career.
Chasing a target of 306, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 268 in 48.1 overs.
Speaking at a post-match press conference, Salman Ali Agha said performing well across all three formats was important to him, although fortunately his performances in ODI cricket had been better.
He said his batting approach did not change significantly across the three formats. He had nothing to prove to anyone and did not need to respond to anyone, as he loved cricket and enjoyed representing Pakistan.
Century Celebration Dedicated to His Son
Explaining his distinctive celebration, Salman Ali Agha said it was meant only for his son, who watches cricket on television and expresses happiness in the same way.
According to him, the gesture was not intended to send a message to anyone or prove anyone wrong.
Domestic Cricket Deserves Greater Respect
Discussing Pakistan’s domestic cricket structure, Salman Ali Agha said domestic cricket was not given the respect it deserved. He explained that scoring runs at the domestic level was not easy and required skill, hard work, and consistency.
He said players who perform well in domestic cricket could also deliver strong performances at the international level. Therefore, players participating in the domestic circuit should be treated with respect.
Return to Form After a Difficult Period
Salman Ali Agha acknowledged that his last three Test matches had not gone well, but noted that he had been performing consistently over the past four years. He said regaining form in international cricket could take time.
During Pakistan’s tour of England, Salman Ali Agha captained the team in the first Test but was dropped for the second. Before the third Test, amid major changes to the squad, he was sent back to Pakistan along with seven other players.
Following the England tour, Salman Agha represented Kingsmen Academy in the President’s Trophy Grade One competition, playing five matches. He attracted attention by scoring an unbeaten 300 in his very first match.
Later, he was removed as captain of Pakistan’s T20 International team, with Sahibzada Farhan appointed as his replacement. Salman Agha was also excluded from Pakistan’s national squad for the T20 International series against Sri Lanka, which Pakistan won 2–1.
His century in the ODI against Sri Lanka marks an important step forward for Salman Ali Agha, allowing him to demonstrate his abilities after a challenging period.