Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has raised concerns over the quality of pitches used during the recently concluded T20I series against Bangladesh in Dhaka, calling them unsuitable for preparation ahead of major tournaments like the Asia Cup and the ICC World Cup.

 

Days after head coach Mike Hesson criticised the sluggish tracks at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Salman echoed similar views during the post-match press conference following Pakistan’s consolation win in the third T20I.

 

“If anyone asks me whether this series helped us prepare for the Asia Cup or the World Cup, I would say no,” Salman said. “These conditions don’t resemble anything we’re likely to encounter in future tournaments. I haven’t seen such pitches anywhere outside Bangladesh.”

 

The pitches in Mirpur favoured spin heavily and offered little assistance to stroke play, resulting in low-scoring games throughout the three-match series. While acknowledging the team's shortcomings, Salman clarified that his remarks were not excuses.

 

“I’m not here to make excuses or blame the pitch,” he said. “We are professionals and must adapt to any conditions. But realistically, these wickets aren’t ideal for preparing for major tournaments where conditions will differ significantly.”

 

The Asia Cup is scheduled to be held in the UAE, while Pakistan’s T20 World Cup matches are likely to take place in Sri Lanka, where conditions are expected to be more balanced and competitive for international cricket.

 

Pakistan’s aggressive batting approach failed to click in the first two games of the series, highlighting the mismatch between their game plan and the pitch behavior in Dhaka. The team will now shift focus to the upcoming series against the West Indies, where they hope to regain momentum.

 

A tri-nation series before the Asia Cup will also provide an opportunity for the team to settle on a playing combination, preferably on pitches that better suit their style of play.

 

With the Dhaka chapter behind them, all eyes are now on Pakistan’s preparations for the Asia Cup in September, which will be the true test of Salman Ali Agha’s leadership.