Agha Salman’s Resilience Shines as Pakistan Seeks Victory Against England

In recent times, the sight of Agha Salman defying adversity has become a comforting one for Pakistan cricket fans. Yet, it was his bold approach against England’s Jack Leach that truly astonished spectators. While other batters struggled to find their rhythm throughout the day, Salman’s audacity to step down the pitch stood out, reminiscent of earlier misadventures such as Jamie Smith's mishit that found its way to long-off.

Salman, who typically arrives at the crease at No. 7 during a crisis, has consistently managed to pull his team back from the brink. In the midst of chaos, he has shown remarkable composure and skill, often being the lone warrior when his team falters. Just last week, he scored a commendable 104 after stepping onto the field with the score at 393 for six. He also contributed vital innings of 54 and 47 not out in the second Test in Rawalpindi.

This year, Salman has established himself as a key player, boasting an impressive average of 54.25 with five scores exceeding fifty, including a century in the first innings of the first Test in Multan.

Early Struggles for Pakistan

As Salman walked to the crease on the third afternoon of the second Test in Multan, Pakistan was in a precarious position. After beginning the innings with a 75-run lead, they found themselves in dire straits at 114 for five, having just lost Mohammad Rizwan to a fierce burst of reverse swing from England’s bowlers. To secure a solid lead, Pakistan desperately needed runs, and Salman was tasked with stabilizing the innings.

Although he has been known to score rapidly—averaging 70 runs per 100 balls this year—he faced significant challenges on a difficult pitch. The returning pace duo of Brydon Carse and Matt Potts had just resumed their aggressive spells after a brief rest, adding to the pressure on the batter. Salman's previous performances against pace had not been as fluent as those against spin, and he scored only 25 runs off 51 balls against the attacking trio of Carse, Potts, and Ben Stokes.

His batting partner, Saud Shakeel, struggled to find his form against fast bowling, and despite having scored around 80 in the first innings, he seemed out of sorts. Salman took it upon himself to shoulder the responsibility, facing 49 of the 66 balls in their 31-run partnership.

Stokes ensured that Salman remained under pressure by keeping Carse and Potts in the attack. On a pitch that offered uneven bounce and unpredictable movement, Salman faced a challenging moment when he edged two deliveries in quick succession from Carse, but fortune smiled upon him, granting him a reprieve each time.

As the innings progressed, Salman had managed only 25 runs from 57 balls when Shakeel was dismissed LBW by Leach, further intensifying the pressure on him. With the batting order collapsing around him, Salman became the sole hope for Pakistan's revival. Fortunately, England's bowlers appeared to tire, prompting Stokes to introduce spin from both ends.

Agha Salman Takes Control

Salman seized the opportunity, attacking Leach and Shoaib Bashir by scoring 30 runs in just 19 balls. His assault began with a well-timed boundary over mid-off, followed by successive slog-sweeps for fours off Leach. He consistently found ways to rotate the strike and accumulate runs, frustrating the English bowlers with his ability to maneuver the ball around the field.

His most impressive display came in a ninth-wicket partnership of 65 runs with Sajid Khan, which saw them push England further into a corner with boundary after boundary. Salman often spoke of the need for quicker scoring when batting with lower-order players, and he raced to 38 runs off 32 balls during this critical partnership.

"Since I joined the team, I have been batting at seven. Initially, I used to complain, but now I accept this as my role and aim to excel," he reflected. "We've managed to score over 100 runs in both innings from the lower order, which has been vital. Our target was 230, but that partnership helped us set a target of 300."

To cap off his innings, Salman launched a magnificent six over long-off against Leach, marking his ninth half-century—his fourth this year and second consecutive half-century in a second innings. His contributions have been crucial, particularly as Pakistan has struggled to set competitive scores in their second innings throughout the year. Currently, Salman leads the team in runs, averages, and strike rate in the second innings for 2024.

Leadership Beyond the Bat

Salman’s influence extended beyond his batting performance. He played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s early breakthroughs, encouraging his captain to review an appeal for a caught behind against Zak Crawley that went unnoticed by others. He actively engaged with his teammates, suggesting field placements and offering feedback to bowlers after each delivery.

As Salman observed the frantic changes in the field set by Stokes, he ensured his partners were aware of the shifting strategies, demonstrating his leadership qualities and commitment to the team’s success.

After two consecutive dinners filled with confidence, the team was optimistic about securing victory on a challenging surface. England faced a daunting task, needing 261 runs after losing both their openers within the first 11 overs.

“It’s going to be huge,” Salman said when asked about the significance of nearing a potential victory. “We haven’t won a Test at home in a long time. This victory would mean a lot to us, and we’ll put in every effort to ensure we win this match because it’s very important.”

Agha Salman’s performance has not only revitalized Pakistan’s chances in the match but has also underscored his importance to the team. With his instrumental contributions, he has played a vital role in orchestrating Pakistan’s last Test series victory back in July 2023 against Sri Lanka, proving to be a linchpin for the team’s aspirations moving forward.