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KARACHI: Pakistan all-rounder Salman Ali Agha stressed the importance of converting starts into big scores and maintaining consistency after his team\u2019s defeat against New Zealand in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a press conference, Agha admitted Pakistan fell short in all departments but vowed to regroup for their crucial upcoming match against arch-rivals India.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to convert our 30s and 40s into bigger scores,\u201d Agha said. \u201cIf we want to become one of the top teams in the world, we have to bring consistency in our performances.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chasing a target of 321, Pakistan struggled to build partnerships and momentum throughout their innings. Agha pointed out the team\u2019s failure to capitalise on batting-friendly conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn this wicket, 300-plus was achievable, but we didn\u2019t get a good start in batting. We couldn\u2019t build partnerships or momentum, and our powerplay performance was also below par,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The absence of opener Fakhar Zaman, who couldn\u2019t take his regular position at the top of the order, further dented Pakistan\u2019s run chase. \u201cFakhar\u2019s absence at the start affected our powerplay. Had he been there, our start and subsequent position could have been different,\u201d Agha added.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on his own performance, Agha acknowledged he could have extended his innings to make a greater impact. \u201cI could have played a longer innings. If I had stayed longer, the result might have been different,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Agha emphasised the importance of improving powerplay performances, especially when chasing big totals. \u201cTo chase 320, you need to do well in the powerplay. Today, we didn\u2019t perform well in any department and couldn\u2019t meet the expectations,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n
Despite the loss, Agha remained focused on the next challenge: a high-stakes match against India. \u201cWe will put this match behind us and take the field with full determination for the India game,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Agha also highlighted the need for continuous improvement to compete with the world\u2019s best teams. \u201cTo beat top teams in the world, we need to play well consistently,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n