Pakistan’s T20I captain Salman Agha expressed disappointment with his team’s performance following a 55-run defeat to South Africa in the opening match of their T20 series. The loss has resulted in South Africa leading the series 1-0, with Pakistan struggling to chase down a target of 195, ultimately being bowled out for just 139 in 18.1 overs.
Agha pointed to the middle order’s inability to form crucial partnerships as a primary factor in the defeat. During the post-match presentation, he emphasized the need for improvement, stating, “We didn’t start well with the bat and lost too many wickets in the middle. We have to fix that and make a quick turnaround. We need to focus on taking singles and doubles and building partnerships, which are currently missing.”
The captain also reviewed the bowling performance, noting that the team’s approach during the powerplay was not up to par. He remarked, “We didn’t bowl well during the early overs. On this wicket, bowling straight on the off stump would have been advantageous. However, we failed to execute that plan, allowing them to post a significant total.”
Despite the setbacks, Agha acknowledged the team’s performance in the middle overs as a bright spot, indicating that with better execution and focus, they could improve in the upcoming matches.
The Pakistani squad will look to bounce back in the second T20I, scheduled to take place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Friday, with a further opportunity to recover in the final match of the series on Saturday. There remains hope that the team can adapt and show resilience in the upcoming challenges.