Karachi Kings batter Salman Ali Agha said poor execution in all departments proved costly after his side slipped to an eight-wicket defeat against Islamabad United in the 25th match of HBL PSL 11 at National Bank Stadium on April 16, 2026. In Karachi Kings’ post-match coverage, Agha said the team simply did not play good cricket and paid the price for it.
Islamabad United chased down Karachi’s modest target of 151 with four overs to spare, thanks largely to a 93-run opening stand between Sameer Minhas and Devon Conway. Minhas struck 58 off 36 balls, while Conway stayed unbeaten with a half-century as United wrapped up the chase in 16 overs.
Earlier, Karachi Kings managed 150 for 6 in their 20 overs. Reeza Hendricks top-scored with an unbeaten 51, Jason Roy made 39 on his first PSL 11 appearance, and Azam Khan added 34, but the innings never really kicked into top gear. Salman Ali Agha himself was dismissed for just four as Islamabad’s bowlers kept Karachi from building the kind of total they wanted.
Reflecting on the loss, Agha said Karachi failed to make the most of key phases of the match, especially the powerplay. He said the Kings should have aimed for around 170 to 180 runs and believed early wickets during Islamabad’s chase could have changed the contest. He also explained that his move in the batting order was made to create a left-right combination.
Agha tried to strike a balanced note despite the defeat. He pointed out that Karachi have won three and lost three so far, adding that with four matches still left, momentum in the tournament can shift quickly.
The 32-year-old also admitted his own tournament has been underwhelming. According to Karachi Kings’ official report, he has scored 84 runs in six matches and said he has not been turning starts in the 20s into bigger innings.
For Karachi Kings, the defeat was another reminder that decent individual contributions are not enough unless the side executes its plans properly. Agha’s verdict was blunt, and it matched the result: Karachi were outplayed with both bat and ball, and Islamabad looked the sharper team throughout.
