RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s T20 captain Salman Ali Agha and South African skipper Donovan Ferreira held separate press conferences on Monday ahead of the much-anticipated Pink T20 series in Rawalpindi, with both leaders outlining their preparations and goals for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Salman focused on consistency and team improvement
Addressing reporters, Salman Ali Agha said the team is eager to deliver strong performances in the Pink T20 clash, emphasizing teamwork and consistency.
“We are very excited for the Pink T20,” he said. “Every player and selector has their own opinions on selection, but the main focus is team success.”
The Pakistan skipper admitted his recent performances have not met expectations but vowed to bounce back.
“My performance in the last two series wasn’t good, but I aim to contribute to team victories,” he said.
Salman confirmed that Pakistan will maintain its current strategy leading up to the World Cup.
“We’re trying not to repeat past mistakes. The strategy will remain the same until the T20 World Cup,” he explained.
He pointed out that Pakistan needs to improve bowling in the death overs and batting consistency, saying, “We have to work harder in those areas.”
Praise for teammates and leadership approach
Salman praised Babar Azam, calling him a “world-class player” whose presence adds strength to the squad.
He also lauded Usman Khan, noting his ability to handle spin effectively in the middle overs.
“Babar’s inclusion is always beneficial for the team. Usman bats really well against spinners,” he said.
Discussing his captaincy style, Salman shared that he makes on-field decisions based on game situations.
“I make my own calls on the field — I bowl where needed and stay focused on the team’s needs,” he added.
Ferreira eyes strong start for South Africa
Meanwhile, South African captain Donovan Ferreira highlighted the importance of the upcoming series, calling it vital preparation ahead of the T20 World Cup.
“This series against Pakistan is important as the World Cup is close,” Ferreira said. “We’ve played good T20 cricket recently and have a strong group of batsmen and bowlers.”
Ferreira admitted he hadn’t yet examined the Rawalpindi pitch, but expressed confidence in his team’s adaptability.
“I haven’t seen the pitch yet since I missed practice, but we’ll understand conditions after a few balls,” he said.
The Proteas captain stressed the importance of starting the series positively.
“Winning the first T20I will give us great momentum. We’ll play every match with a winning mindset,” he concluded.
