Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha sustained a mild neck spasm during training ahead of the Asia Cup 2025.
Just ahead of their Asia Cup 2025 opener, the Pakistan camp is now facing a significant concern regarding their captain’s fitness. Specifically, team captain Salman Ali Agha sustained a mild neck spasm during a training session. Although the team management remains confident, this development has certainly created some unease. Indeed, with high-stakes matches impending, Agha’s well-being is absolutely crucial for the team’s campaign.
Salman Agha’s Limited Training Sparks Concern
The issue first arose on Wednesday, September 10, at the ICC Academy in Dubai. During this session, Agha missed a significant portion of the team’s practice. Furthermore, the all-rounder sported a visible bandage on his neck after complaining of pain. According to reports, while he did travel with the squad to the grounds, Agha completely skipped the warm-ups and even the light football drills. Meanwhile, the rest of the players went through a complete fitness routine. Consequently, his limited participation has given rise to natural concerns, especially with the highly-anticipated clash against India looming on Sunday.
PCB Downplays Fears, Asserts Precaution
In response to these concerns, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) quickly moved to downplay the severity of the situation. In fact, the board asserted that the issue is minor. They characterized the captain’s reduced activity as a purely precautionary measure. Therefore, the official stance is one of cautious optimism. The 31-year-old is expected to resume full-fledged training shortly. Ultimately, the team management remains hopeful that he will be fit to lead Pakistan in the crucial fixtures ahead.
Captain’s Importance to Pakistan’s Campaign
Agha’s fitness is paramount because he is a vital cog in the team’s structure. The Lahore-born player has represented his country in 21 Tests, 41 ODIs, and 25 T20Is so far. In the shortest format specifically, he has scored 489 runs at a solid average of 27.17. Moreover, his strike rate of 116.43 shows his ability to score quickly. With the ball, likewise, he has picked up four wickets at a decent economy rate of 7.50, thus providing a valuable all-round option for his side.
Pakistan’s Road Ahead in Group A
Looking forward, Pakistan must now prepare for a challenging group stage. The team is placed in Group A, alongside cricketing giants India, debutants Oman, and the UAE. First, the Men in Green will begin their Asia Cup campaign on Friday, September 12. They face Oman at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Interestingly, this will be the very first T20I meeting between the two sides, so Pakistan will be keen to start their tournament with their leader on the field.
Pakistan are in a rebuilding phase, with Mike Hesson taking charge as the head coach. Agha has been appointed as the T20 captain, taking over the reins from Mohammad Rizwan.
“I think we are playing good cricket, we started that a few months ago. Things are coming together, as a team we are playing good cricket and looking forward to this tournament, and everyone is very excited,” Salman said in the pre-series press conference on Tuesday, September 9.