Salman Ali Agha Becoming Pakistan’s New Cornerstone

Pakistan’s recent victory against England in the second Test at Multan saw Noman Ali and Sajid Khan earning the lion’s share of accolades, but one unsung hero once again emerged from the shadows: Salman Ali Agha. While the focus was on Babar Azam’s absence and his poor run of form, many overlooked Salman, who had already been making a compelling case for himself in the batting lineup.

In the midst of the excitement surrounding debutant Kamran Ghulam, who scored a brilliant 118, Salman’s contributions went underappreciated. Although he managed just 31 runs while other teammates like Aamer Jamal, Mohammad Rizwan, and Saim Ayub posted higher scores, Salman showcased his true potential in the crucial third innings when the team’s fortunes were wavering.

Facing a precarious situation at 150/7, Salman played a crucial knock, scoring 63 runs and guiding Pakistan to a respectable 221/9 before being dismissed by Brydon Carse. His innings not only boosted the team’s total but also expanded Pakistan’s lead to 296 runs, setting up Noman Ali for the final push with the ball.

Despite his pivotal role, Salman Ali Agha was not nominated for the Man of the Match award—a recurring theme throughout his career. Yet, his true value lies in his consistent performance. No other player has scored 50 or more runs batting at No. 6 or lower than Salman, who boasts 12 such innings, with Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya De Silva trailing him with 11. In fact, Salman has scored the most runs at No. 7 or lower during this World Test Championship cycle, amassing an impressive 743 runs at an extraordinary average of 61.9. He only trails England’s Harry Brook in total runs scored during the ongoing Test series against Pakistan.

Additionally, Salman’s ability to contribute with the ball when needed makes him an invaluable asset to the Pakistan cricket team. Since his debut in 2022, he has quietly established himself as a mainstay in the international squad, and this trend is expected to continue as Pakistan prepares for their upcoming tour to Australia.