Harsha Bhogle: “I just thought, ‘He can bowl and he can definitely bat – more of a batter than a bowler – but he is some player’. I am very happy that it has started to get reflected in the numbers, and it is Salman Ali Agha. I hope we see more of him”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Renowned cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle admitted Pakistan batting all-rounder Salman Ali Agha “is some player” and wants to see “more of him”.
Salman has become an integral member of the Pakistan team and has started being utilised in all three formats.
During the tour of Australia, he played in the three-match ODI series, but only batted once, scoring 12 runs.
As for the T20Is, he mustered five runs in three games at an average of 1.66.
Salman then travelled to Zimbabwe with the men in green and started with 34 runs in three ODIs at an average of 17.
He also took six wickets at an average of 16.83.
Following this, the 31-year-old made 45 runs in the three-match T20I series at an average of 22.50, while also claiming two wickets at an average of 13.
As for the recent tour of South Africa, Salman did exceptionally well in the three ODIs, accumulating 163 runs, which included a career-best knock of 82 not out, at an average of 81.50.
Additionally, he also picked up five wickets at an average of 22.
“I know Pakistan likes Saud Shakeel, but when I saw another young player at the end of last year here in Australia, I just thought, ‘He can bowl and he can definitely bat – more of a batter than a bowler – but he is some player’,” Bhogle said on his YouTube channel as quoted by A Sports.
“I am very happy that it has started to get reflected in the numbers, and it is Salman Ali Agha. I hope we see more of him.”
After the ODI series, Salman featured in the two Tests Pakistan played against South Africa, where he made 86 runs at an average of 21.50 and snapped up three wickets at an average of 57.66.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha