'Solid middle-order batter' - Mir Hamza praises Salman Ali Agha's all-round ability

Mir Hamza, Pakistan's left-arm seamer, has expressed confidence in Salman Ali Agha's credentials as a middle-order batter and all-rounder. Agha was dropped for the second Test at Lord's after scoring 21 and 4 in the opening Test in Leeds during Pakistan's ongoing three-Test series against England. Pakistan lost both of the first two Tests, leading to significant squad changes ahead of the third Test. Seven players, including Agha, were removed from the squad and replaced by seven others, with five of the replacements uncapped at Test level. The third Test between Pakistan and England begins September 9 at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Despite Agha's exclusion from the second Test, Hamza has backed the batter's potential to contribute to the team's fortunes. "Salman Ali Agha has the ability to build and carry long innings for the team. He is a solid middle order batter who can excel in both batting and bowling," Hamza said as quoted by Batting with Bimal. Salman Ali Agha, born on November 23, 1993, is a right-handed middle-order batter and right-arm off-break bowler who offers Pakistan a valuable all-round option. His most recent Test appearance came on August 19, 2026, against England. Mir Hamza's praise highlights Agha's ability to contribute with both bat and ball, qualities that have made him an important part of Pakistan's setup. Agha has scored more than 4,000 runs across international formats and has also claimed nearly 50 wickets. His first-class record further underlines his all-round credentials, with 6,678 runs and 125 wickets to his name. He has also been a consistent performer in ODIs, where his batting average is above 40. Across formats, Agha has registered six centuries and 27 half-centuries, showcasing his ability to build substantial innings while contributing with the ball when required. His versatility remains a valuable asset for Pakistan. Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Razaullah, Saad Baig (wicketkeeper) Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Ubaid Shah This article first appeared on CricTracker and was syndicated with permission.