Salman Agha Responds to Test Setback With Stunning Unbeaten 300
Ihtisham decided to keep things simple and revert back to first-class basics as the Kingsmen Academy batsman smashed an unbeaten 300—a career-best—against Markhor IT Solutions in round one of Pakistan’s new-look President’s Trophy, salman agha made a strong return on the domestic-first-class scene. The knock came just a fortnight after Agha was axed from Pakistan’s Test squad and sent home early from the tour of England.
Agha produced another marathon effort, scoring 168 from the 336 balls he faced for his highest score in first-class cricket – beating his previous best of 169. That stunning innings set up an impressive total of 565 for 7 declared at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium and also offered a much-needed pick me up to a player who has suffered from inconsistent performances on the international stage.
On the England tour, the Pakistan all-rounder had gone through a challenging phase. Agha, who captained Pakistan in the first Test at Headingley as Babar Azam’s replacement when the regular captain was injured, missed out for the following Test at Lord’s when Babar returned to fitness. Restructuring of the Test squad meant he was one of seven players released home after Pakistan’s defeats.
His international stats in the recent past have been especially tame. That follows poor Test form for Pakistan’s red-ball team with Agha having only scored 45 runs from five innings in the three Tests before his dropping.
However, in domestic cricket Agha looked a different player. He says his batting technique changes are helping get back to where he was at, that he is finding his rhythm and confidence.
That innings was as much about patience as it was about stroke-play. Agha walked in to join Mohammad Suleman at 72 for 3, when Kingsmen Academy were under pressure. In reply, the duo put 274 runs for the fourth wicket between them to turn the game on its head. Suleman went on to complete his sixth century in first-class cricket.
Agha maintained his main goal was not to complete three hundred. He leveraged partnerships instead and made sure to zoom into each delivery.
His display also underlined the role of domestic cricket in Pakistan’s strategy for fortifying their Test framework. Under the PCB’s new formula of central-contract, Test experts must play home and away in all domestic first-class matches. Agha had, in fact, played just three first-class games over the past three years.
In Australia, international players were able to return to the domestic circuit and there was some chatter this week about a possible return from Pucovski, now 32, saying it was important for those to come back as he also labelled his comeback enjoyable after spending years in the domestic competition before getting into first-class cricket.
In his explanation, Agha also paid tribute to the innings dedicated to family, reminding that he had lost form in recent times and it was a tough time. His 309 not out built up a hugely strong platform for him to rebuild his confidence and grip again fighting his way back into the Pakistan side.
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