Overview

• A joint press conference ahead of the UAE T20I tri-series captured Pakistan captain Salman Agha smirking when a journalist told Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan his team were Asia’s second-best.
• Journalist Shahid Hashmi later wrote on X that he was referencing Afghanistan finishing as the second-best Asian team at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
• Afghanistan reached the 2024 World Cup semifinals, clinching qualification with standout wins over Australia and Bangladesh.
• Pakistan’s recent T20 struggles include a super-over defeat to the USA and, as reported by News18, a group-stage exit at last year’s tournament.
• With the Asia Cup approaching, Agha is leading a rebuild in a transitional squad, and News18 reports Pakistan have made selection changes including omitting Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.