COLOMBO: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has called for improved Powerplay bowling despite his team’s convincing 32-run victory over the United States in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Pakistan delivered a commanding all-round performance in their second match of the tournament, successfully defending a competitive total of 190-9. While the result strengthened their position in the group stage, Agha made it clear that the team is far from satisfied.
Sahibzada Farhan was the standout performer with the bat, smashing 73 off just 41 deliveries. His aggressive stroke play provided early momentum and laid the foundation for a challenging total. Babar Azam added stability with a composed contribution, while Shadab Khan’s late flourish ensured Pakistan crossed the 190-mark.
With the ball, Usman Tariq led the charge, claiming three crucial wickets to derail the American chase. Pakistan’s bowling unit maintained control in the middle overs, restricting USA’s scoring rate and building consistent pressure.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Agha described the performance as clinical but emphasized the need for refinement, particularly in the first six overs of the bowling innings.
“We started strongly with the bat and handled the middle phase well. When you put 190 on the board and have a quality attack, you back yourself to defend it,” Agha said. “But there are areas where we can improve. Powerplay bowling is one of them. We want to be more precise and more ruthless in those early overs.”
The skipper highlighted Pakistan’s confidence in defending totals, noting the depth in both the batting and bowling departments. According to Agha, even scores in the 160–170 range are defendable given the team’s bowling strength.
“We know our bowling attack is world-class. Even if we put up 160 or 170, we believe we can defend it. That’s the confidence we have,” he added.
Agha also pointed to the team’s flexible batting order as a strategic advantage. The top order is prepared to accelerate from the outset, while the middle and lower order possess the ability to either stabilize the innings or finish aggressively depending on the match situation.
“Our batting lineup is adaptable. If we get a good start, we capitalize. If we lose early wickets, we have players who can rebuild and take the game deep,” he explained.
Despite the convincing win, Pakistan’s think tank is focused on fine-tuning execution ahead of high-pressure fixtures. The upcoming clash against arch-rivals India at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 15 is expected to be a defining contest in the group stage.
With momentum on their side but improvement still on the agenda, Pakistan will aim to deliver a more complete performance — particularly in the Powerplay — as the tournament intensifies.
Read More: Pakistan Overpower USA as Farhan and Tariq Lead T20 World Cup Charge
