Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha gave his teammates a scare on Wednesday after skipping the majority of a training session at the ICC Academy, just days before the team’s first game of the 2025 Asia Cup.
According to The News, Pakistan’s T20I captain did not take part in most of the drills due to neck spasms.
Salman Ali Agha did travel with the squad to the ground but kept himself away from any strenuous activity. He was reportedly spotted with a bandage around his neck, moving gingerly and avoiding the warm-up and football drills his teammates were engaged in.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), however, quickly moved to calm nerves. The team’s media manager confirmed that the skipper’s discomfort was caused by a “mild spasm” and stressed that the decision to rest him was taken purely as a precaution.
“There are no major concerns,” the official said, adding that Salman Ali Agha is expected to be cleared soon. He took part in the pre-tournament activities without a hitch, so his fitness troubles appear to be a precaution and nothing series.
For Pakistan, however, the timing of the setback is delicate. The Green Shirts open their campaign against Oman tomorrow (September 12) before locking horns with arch-rivals India on September 14. The team management remains confident that Salman Ali Agha will recover in time for both fixtures.
Pakistan will head into the Asia Cup full of confidence after winning the tri-series prior to the tournament under Salman Ali Agha’s captaincy.
While Salman’s absence from training raised some eyebrows, the mood in the camp otherwise appeared relaxed, with players going through their routines and enjoying lighter drills. For now, Pakistan fans will be hoping their skipper’s precautionary rest translates into full fitness when the stakes rise on Sunday against India.