Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has thrown his weight behind Mohammad Haris, who continues to face scrutiny over his prolonged dip in form. The wicketkeeper-batter endured another disappointing outing during the tri-nation series, sparking fresh debate over his place in the Asia Cup squad.
Captain Defends a Sacrificial Role
Speaking after Pakistan’s title-winning triumph in the tri-series final, Salman praised Haris for accepting a role far outside his comfort zone.
“Haris is naturally a top-order batter, but he has taken it upon himself to bat at six or seven whenever asked. That sacrifice isn’t talked about enough,” Salman noted.
Haris has historically done well at No. 3, averaging 28.22 in that position. But with Fakhar Zaman occupying the top order, Haris has been pushed down, where his returns have been meager.
Struggles by the Numbers
The statistics paint a grim picture: in his last 10 T20Is batting lower down, Haris has scored only 50 runs from 63 balls—an average of 5.00 with a strike rate below 80. The tri-nation series was no better, producing just 33 runs across five innings.
These struggles have led to growing calls for Mohammad Rizwan or Usman Khan to be drafted back into the side, with critics arguing that Haris’s form is too costly to ignore heading into a major tournament.
“Don’t Judge Him on a Few Series”
Salman, however, urged patience.
“A couple of poor series shouldn’t be the end of a player,” he said. “I’m confident Haris will find his rhythm in the Asia Cup.”
The public show of support is notable—rarely do Pakistan captains openly defend under-fire players. It also signals that the team management values Haris’s adaptability and what it brings to squad balance, even if the runs have dried up.
Asia Cup: A Proving Ground
Pakistan opens its Asia Cup campaign on September 12 against Oman. For Haris, it could be a career-defining opportunity: either silence his critics with a return to form or fuel further debate about his future in Pakistan’s T20 setup.
