Faheem ashraf

Skipper Salman Ali Agha: Pakistan opened their T20 World Cup campaign with a narrow, nerve-shredding win over the Netherlands, a result that underlined both their quality and their lingering vulnerabilities. Skipper Salman Ali Agha credited Faheem Ashraf for his late cameo, which helped the side cruise past the Dutch with three wickets to spare.

What should have been a routine chase of 148 turned into a last-over scramble, rescued only by Ashraf’s blistering knock. After the match, captain Salman Ali Agha admitted the team had made life unnecessarily difficult for themselves but praised the overall bowling effort that kept the Netherlands within reach.

“We have to do it the hard way. But I think it was when we bowled; I think we really stuck down really well. With 148, I can take that any day,” he said.