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MIRPUR: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha remained optimistic and praised his players for demonstrating fighting spirit despite Green Shirts’ eight-run defeat in the second T20I against Bangladesh here on Tuesday.
Chasing a challenging 134-run total on a tricky surface, Pakistan were bowled out for 125 in 19.2 overs.
With a narrow defeat in the second T20I of a three-match series, Bangladesh won the T20I series against Pakistan for the first time.
Speaking in the post-match presentation, Salman Agha rued losing early wickets, noting that they could have restricted Bangladesh.
“The way we started bowling in the power play, we could have gotten like 10 fewer runs, but that’s the way cricket goes. But 130 was what we thought we had under control, but the way we batted in the power play, I think that needs to be improved,” he said.
The skipper also praised debutant Ahmed Daniyal, who scored a valiant 17-run knock alongside Salman Mirza, who took two wickets and impressed in only his second international game.
“They [Daniyal and Salman] both bowled really well. Salman bowled really well in both games, and then Daniyal came in this game and bowled outstandingly well. And he batted really well as well. He almost took the game away from them, but yeah, they are one for the future,” he said.
Highlighting the top-order woes, Salman remained optimistic, lauding the team’s spirit to take the game deep. He further credited Faheem Ashraf for scoring a vital knock which nearly took Pakistan home in the chase.
“We want to bat well as a top order, and this is something we need to look at. And then, 15-5, and then bringing that game to that deep is just outstanding. The way Faheem batted. I think it’s outstandingly well; he almost took the game away from them, but that’s how cricket goes,” Salman Ali Agha said.
“We don’t want to give up. This is what we are bringing to this team. We don’t want to give up no matter what situation we are in.
We always think we can win the game. And that belief is in our team now, and the way we played after, like, 15-5, I think, is outstanding, ” he concluded.
READ: Bangladesh survive Faheem Ashraf scare to clinch T20I series against Pakistan
