Salman Ali Agha: “Salman [Mirza] is working very hard and learning new things every day. He started as a backup option, but he’s becoming a frontline bowler now”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha admitted left-arm seamer Salman Mirza is no longer a back-up option as he is “becoming a frontline bowler now.”
Mirza has been highly impressive in the 11 T20Is he has played for Pakistan, picking up 16 wickets at an average of 16.56 and an economy rate of 6.36.
Recently, he took part in the three-match T20I series against South Africa and claimed four wickets in two games at an average of 7.50 and an economy rate of 3.75.
The 31-year-old then proceeded to feature in the T20I tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, where he snapped up four wickets in four matches at an average of 25.25 and an economy rate of 7.12.
Salman praised Mirza for his hard work and noted that the Lahore native is steadily becoming a more dependable asset.
“Salman [Mirza] is working very hard and learning new things every day. He started as a backup option, but he’s becoming a frontline bowler now,” he was quoted as saying by Geo Super.
Mirza is currently in action in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and registered figures of 1-17 in his first game for the Dhaka Capitals against the Rajshahi Warriors.
He will return to international duty soon, though, as Pakistan will travel to Sri Lanka for three T20Is, which will be held in Dambulla from January 7 to 11.
Pakistan Squad for Sri Lanka T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmad, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq