Salman Ali Agha: “Some people say he doesn’t use his mind while playing, but that’s not true – he played well and showed maturity”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha believes it is wrong for people to say that big-hitting batsman Mohammad Haris “doesn’t use his mind while playing”.
Haris has been criticised a lot in the past for his shot selection and inconsistency when it comes to scoring runs.
However, even though the the 24-year-old plays a very attacking and high-risk brand of cricket, he has put up a few strong performances lately.
During the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL), he amassed 247 runs in 10 matches for the Peshawar Zalmi, which included a top score of 87, at an average of 27.44 and a strike-rate of 148.79.
He maintained his form during Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in Lahore as he accumulated 179 runs, which included a career-best knock of 107 not out, at an average of 89.50 and a strike-rate of 201.12.
Pakistan then toured Pakistan for three T20Is, but Haris’ form took a hit as he only mustered nine runs at an average of three and a strike-rate of 50.
“Some people say he doesn’t use his mind while playing, but that’s not true – he played well and showed maturity,” Salman was quoted as saying by Geo Super.
After touring Bangladesh, Pakistan travelled to the West Indies and Haris struck 12 runs in the three-match T20I series at an average of six and a strike-rate of 133.33.
The men in green won the T20I series 2-1, but lost the ODIs 2-1.
Pakistan are now playing a T20I tri-series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan in Sharjah, which will conclude on September 7.
In the two games he has featured in, Haris has scored 16 runs at an average of eight and a strike-rate of 106.66.
After the T20I tri-series, the men in green will be involved in the 2025 Asia Cup, which will be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28.
Pakistan squad for UAE T20I tri-series and 2025 Asia Cup: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem