MIRPUR: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha remained hopeful and proud of his team’s effort after an intense eight-run loss to Bangladesh in the second T20I, played Tuesday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Chasing a modest target of 134 on a tricky pitch, Pakistan fell short by just eight runs, ending their innings at 125 in 19.2 overs. The defeat handed Bangladesh a historic series victory over Pakistan — their first-ever T20I series win against the Green Shirts.
During the post-match presentation, Salman expressed disappointment over the early collapse in the powerplay, which ultimately made the chase more difficult.
“We gave away around 10 extra runs early on, despite a strong start with the ball in the powerplay. Still, 130 was a target we believed we could chase. However, our top-order performance during the powerplay is an area we must improve,” Salman said.
He didn’t shy away from appreciating the contributions of new talents. Debutant Ahmed Daniyal stood out with both bat and ball, scoring a valuable 17 runs and partnering with Salman Mirza, who claimed two crucial wickets in just his second T20I appearance.
“Both Daniyal and Salman Mirza showed a lot of promise. Daniyal came in and bowled exceptionally well, and his batting almost changed the game. These two are bright prospects for the future,” he added.
Despite the top-order’s failure, Salman remained positive, commending the lower-order for stretching the game to the final overs. He especially praised Faheem Ashraf, whose late knock brought Pakistan back into contention.
“Yes, 15 for 5 was a rough start, but the fact that we pushed the game that deep was remarkable. Faheem’s innings was nearly match-winning. It just shows the kind of belief and fighting spirit we have,” the skipper remarked.
In his concluding remarks, Salman emphasized the team’s mindset and determination, saying the squad is focused on building a never-give-up attitude.
“We want to instill a belief that no matter the situation, we can win. That belief is becoming stronger in the team. The way we bounced back after losing early wickets is proof of that spirit,” he said.