Salman Ali Agha has more ability than Pakistan’s best ODI batter, Babar Azam, and their captain, Mohammad Rizwan, according to Ravichandran Ashwin. The all-rounder has been doing well for Pakistan in Tests and ODIs for some time now. He was even awarded the vice-captaincy late last year and is Rizwan’s deputy at the ICC Champions Trophy.
Salman Ali Agha, ready to be Pakistan’s new superstar
He isn’t that young, at 31, but Ashwin thinks that Agha’s got it in him to take over and become Pakistan’s poster boy in the coming years. He thinks his skill level might be higher than Babar and Rizwan’s. Ashwin also thinks how he carries himself on and off the field, bodes well for Pakistan.
“What a player Salman Agha is. He has quality and press-handling ability. I am seeing a Pakistani player with a field presence for the first time in many years. I really hope he does not go like some of the other players did. He could become the poster boy for Pakistan cricket. I believe he has so much ability that he can surpass Babar Azam and Rizwan. I am not sure about his age but I am a fan of his game. He has the skill to play all kinds of shots,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Of late, Babar hasn’t been doing well, and Rizwan is a year older than him. For the next five years, Salman Ali Agha can carry the team, as Ashwin mentions. He did score his maiden hundred days ago against South Africa, showing what he can do at number five in ODIs.
Pakistan’s squad for ICC Champions Trophy
Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi
