DHAKA: All-rounder Salman Ali Agha has stated that the team is focused on securing a win rather than settling for a draw in their ongoing Test against Bangladesh.
While speaking to the press at the end of the fourth day’s play in the Dhaka Test, Agha remarked, “It is our first and foremost aim to get rid of Bangladeshi players quickly and then make sure we go ahead to chase and secure our win.”
Moreover, he observed that the final day of a Test match is exciting and interesting for any team since now in this era of the World Test Championship, pitches are made keeping the results in mind.
Discussing his views about the performance of his team in this match, Agha remarked, “We performed really well during the second day, whether it is bowling or batting. The first day did not favour us whereas the third day was a bit of a mixture of both good and bad. While playing a Test match, winning should be your sole objective.”
He praised Pakistan’s fast bowlers for their performance, emphasizing the team’s goal to dismiss Bangladesh as early as possible, while noting that predicting the opposition’s strategy is never straightforward.
Salman concluded, “With the World Test Championship in play, teams now go all out to win matches. Pitches are prepared to produce results, unlike ten to fifteen years ago when Test matches often ended in draws.”
Australia cricket team to tour Pakistan for ODI series
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced that the Australia men’s cricket team will arrive in Pakistan this month for a three-match ODI series.
The Australian squad is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on 23 May, marking their first bilateral one-day international appearance in the country since 2022. The series opener will take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 30 May, before the action shifts to Lahore for the remaining fixtures.
The Gaddafi Stadium will play host to the second and third ODIs on 2 June and 4 June, respectively. For all three matches, the toss is scheduled for 4:00 PM local time, with play set to begin at 4:30 PM. This tour follows Australia’s recent visit in January and February for a three-match T20I series, which saw Pakistan secure a dominant 3-0 clean sweep at the Gaddafi Stadium.
In addition to their T20I stint earlier this year, Australia also competed in Pakistan during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Their highlights from that tournament included a notable five-wicket victory over England in Lahore on 22 February. This upcoming white-ball series provides another opportunity for the two sides to clash on Pakistani soil as the international cricket calendar continues its busy stretch in the region.
