Salman Ali Agha: “Going forward, I think he will play a key role in our white-ball cricket”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has backed spinner Sufiyan Muqeem to play a “key role” in white-ball cricket going forward.
Muqeem has showcased his brilliant bowling time and time again in both T20Is and ODIs.
The 25-year-old was not at his best during the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL) as he took one wicket in three matches for the Peshawar Zalmi at an average of 107 and an economy rate of 9.72.
Muqeem missed Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in Lahore and the men in green’s tour of Bangladesh.
However, he returned during Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies and picked up three wickets in three T20Is at an average of 19.66 and an economy rate of 4.91.
The men in green won the T20I series 2-1.
As for the ODI series, which the men in green lost 2-1, Muqeem finished with one wicket in one match at an average of 52.
Having seen the kind of impact Muqeem is capable of having, Salman knows the left-arm spinner has a bright future in limited overs cricket.
“Going forward, I think he will play a key role in our white-ball cricket,” he was quoted as saying by ARY News.
Pakistan are now facing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan in a T20I tri-series in Sharjah, which will end on September 7.
In three games, Muqeem has snapped up two wickets at an average of 51 and an economy rate of 9.27.
After the T20I tri-series, the men in green will be involved in the 2025 Asia Cup, which will be played 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