RAWALPINDI(National Times)- Pakistan batter Salman Ali Agha believes the the side have not yet displayed a complete team performance in the ongoing One-day International tri-nation series, and hopes the final against Sri Lanka in Lahore on Saturday is where it falls into place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The hosts\u2019 top-order has been notably starved of runs for the series, underscoring Pakistan\u2019s underwhelming campaign with the bat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSometimes all of your players don\u2019t score runs. Our top order isn\u2019t scoring runs at the moment, like they used to,\u201d Salman said during a press conference on the eve of the match, adding that they have been key performing players for the team over the last few years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey haven\u2019t performed like that in this series, but tomorrow is the final and we hope that they will.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, despite their current lean patch, have been Pakistan\u2019s best players in ODI cricket over the last decade and that the duo were \u201csecond to none.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey know themselves what they need to do and what they need to work on,\u201d Salman said. He added that Fakhar had almost always come good in knock-outs and high-stakes matches like tomorrow\u2019s final, and was \u201choping he will go big.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Salman added that the team always discusses how to put up totals of more than 3oo, and that they needed to focus on converting innings of 50 or 6o runs to big hundreds to help them post the scores they were looking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fragility of Pakistan\u2019s top order is just one of the factors that have gone into the slightly unconvincing cricket the side has played in this series, even in the matches they have won.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Salman said that head coach Mike Hesson always emphasised playing the \u201cperfect game\u201d, where a team aces all of batting, bowling and fielding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He admitted that Pakistan are yet to play one of those matches so far, with performances being punctuated with batting collapses, patches of underwhelming bowling, and \u201clapses\u201d in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that the win against England last Sunday, which was brought about on the back of a sensational 10th-wicket partnership between Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf, was one they \u201cshould have won much more easily.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 32-year-old added that the contributions from the young players Arafat Minhas, Hassan Nawaz and Saad Baig have been key in Pakistan\u2019s wins, calling them \u201camazing and very talented players\u201d who are the \u201cfuture of Pakistan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When asked about what the team will seek to do to offset Sri Lanka\u2019s incredibly strong record at Gaddafi Stadium, he said: \u201cMore than stats, it is how you play on the day that decides who will win.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhichever team plays well will win.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pakistan have been under considerable scrutiny for the elements that have been lacking this series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Salman does not believe those are for a lack of trying or seriousness, especially in response to criticism about him being too relaxed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am playing for Pakistan, how is it possible that I will not be serious about it? I am part of the eleven people representing a population of 25 crore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI made my debut at the age of 28 or 29, and I played domestic cricket for 10 years. I know how I have reached to this stage, and to reach this point and not take it seriously is beyond me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, you can say that my shot selection in the last three games has not been what it should be, and I admit that and I am working on it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When asked about how much rope out-of-form players should be given in the side, he said a \u201cdecent amount of games\u201d that would give them a chance to \u201covercome\u201d periods of failure is crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo make runs in international cricket and be consistently successful is not an easy thing to do,\u201d he said, adding that settling into it took time and youngsters brought into the side should be given ample opportunity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
RAWALPINDI(National Times)- Pakistan batter Salman Ali Agha believes the the side have not yet displayed a complete team performance in the ongoing One-day International tri-nation series, and hopes the final against Sri Lanka in Lahore on Saturday is where it falls into place. The hosts\u2019 top-order has been notably starved of runs for the series, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":135657,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-135656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n