RAWALPINDI: Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha called on his team’s batters to show greater responsibility and composure after a 55-run defeat to South Africa in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing a challenging target of 195 runs, Pakistan struggled to find momentum and lost wickets in quick succession, eventually folding well short of the mark.
South Africa’s George Linde emerged as the standout performer of the match, contributing a brisk 36 off 22 balls with four boundaries and a six, before taking three wickets with the ball — a performance that earned him the Player of the Match award.
For Pakistan, Mohammad Nawaz was the lone bright spot. The all-rounder delivered a fine spell of 3 for 28 in four overs, effectively slowing South Africa’s scoring rate. He later top-scored for Pakistan with a quickfire 36 off 20 balls, showcasing fight amid a disappointing batting display.
Speaking after the match, skipper Salman Ali Agha admitted that early bowling lapses and reckless batting cost Pakistan the game.
“We didn’t start well with the ball, but we managed to pull things back later,” Salman said during the post-match presentation. “With the bat, we kept losing wickets too quickly. We need a quick turnaround before the next match.”
The captain emphasized the importance of smart batting and partnerships over blind aggression.
“We just need to bat properly — rotate the strike, take singles and doubles, and build partnerships. That’s how we’ll chase big totals,” he added.
Reflecting on Pakistan’s powerplay struggles, Salman acknowledged that discipline with the ball was equally crucial.
“We didn’t bowl well in the first 10 overs. Hitting the top of off-stump would’ve been enough, but the positive is how we pulled it back later,” he concluded.
Pakistan will look to bounce back in the second T20I as they aim to level the series against a confident South African side.
