"Salman Ali Agha Next Poster Boy For Pakistan Cricket"- Ravichandran Ashwin

Salman Ali Agha might be the face of Pakistan cricket with a dominant Champions Trophy 2025 performance, according to former Indian spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin.

In today's Champions Trophy opening at Karachi's National Stadium, hosts Pakistan will take against New Zealand in an attempt to repeat their 2017 championship run.

Salman Ali Agha and Tayyab Tahir, two players who are part of the group under Mohammad Rizwan, are the next major things to look out for in Pakistani cricket, according to Ashwin.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin emphasized Tayyab Tahir and Salman Ali Agha as two of the tournament's most important players to keep an eye on.

“I am very excited about two players: Tayyab Tahir and Agha Salman. Actually, Agha Salman should be mentioned first—what a player he is. He has quality, he can handle pressure situations, and he has a presence at the crease that I haven’t seen in a Pakistani player for a long time,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Salman Ali Agha is one of the spin all-rounders in the Pakistan squad along with Khushdil Shah and Saud Shakeel.

Salman Ali Agha could become a poster boy for Pakistan cricket: Ravi Ashwin

Salman Ali Agha has now played in 33 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and has amassed a total of 105 half-centuries. During the tri-nation series last week, he achieved his first ODI century against South Africa.

“I am seeing a Pakistani player with on field presence for the first time in many years. I really hope he does not go like some of the other players did. He could become the poster boy for Pakistan cricket. I believe he has so much ability that he can surpass Babar Azam and Rizwan. I am not sure about his real age but I am a fan of his game. He has the skill to play all kinds of shots,” Ashwin said on his YouTube show Ash ki Baat.

#ApnaTimeAgha ✨ pic.twitter.com/GV4g5r6ZNB

— صالح (@iiisaleh2_0) February 18, 2025

“I am glad Fakhar Zaman is back”- Ravi Ashwin

Fakhar Zaman, the finalist for the 2017 Champions Trophy, has also returned to the Pakistani team in recent months and is anticipated to open for the home team. In the most recent tri-nation series, Zaman scored 135 runs, including 84 against New Zealand.

Ashwin believes that Zaman and Babar Azam would open for Pakistan in the Champions Trophy.

“I am glad Fakhar Zaman is back. As their team is setting up, it seems that Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman will open and Saud Shakeel and Rizwan will play at three and four. And Tayyab Tahir will be the one to watch out in the middle-order. Their approach has been different than India to have more pacers in the team and let’s see what happens next,” added Ashwin.

Abrar Ahmed the lone spinner for Pakistan

The lone specialist spinner in Pakistan's Champions Trophy squad is leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed. Since Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi are anticipated to spearhead Pakistan's bowling attack, Ashwin threw his support behind Afridi and Ahmed if Pakistan must win the championship.

“Shaheen Shah Afridi. What can he do? Can Abrar Ahmed be the answer to what Pakistan has been looking to? All these things will contribute to where Pakistan will finish in the Champions Trophy,” said Ashwin.

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