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Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has voiced admiration for India\u2019s opener Abhishek Sharma ahead of their marquee showdown in the ICC Men\u2019s T20 World Cup 2026, expressing hope that the left-hander recovers in time to feature in Sunday\u2019s contest.<\/strong><\/p>\n Speaking on the eve of the high-voltage encounter at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Agha made it clear that Pakistan want to test themselves against India at full strength, underlining Sharma\u2019s growing stature in international cricket.<\/p>\n \u201cAbhishek is obviously a quality player. I hope he\u2019s recovering well and is available because we want to compete against the best team they have,\u201d Agha said during the pre-match press conference.<\/p>\n The Indian opener had missed his side\u2019s previous outing after being hospitalised with a stomach infection, though India still secured a commanding 93-run victory over Namibia.<\/p>\n Sharma has enjoyed notable success against Pakistan, scoring 110 runs in three matches at a striking rate of 189.65, making his availability a key talking point ahead of the clash.<\/p>\n Addressing another subject, Salman Ali Agha dismissed ongoing chatter around the bowling action of spinner Usman Tariq, reiterating that he has already been cleared.<\/p>\n \u201cThere has been talk about Usman Tariq\u2019s action, but he has been cleared twice. I don\u2019t know why the discussion continues. It does not affect him at all,\u201d the skipper stated.<\/p>\n Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channelThe Pakistan captain also emphasised collective responsibility within the squad, highlighting the importance of flexibility and bench strength.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are ready to play good cricket. We understand the conditions and the pitch. All 15 players are important, and anyone can play,\u201d he said, confirming that the final XI will be decided after assessing the surface.<\/p>\n Reflecting on Pakistan\u2019s historical struggles against India in World Cups, Salman Ali Agha admitted the past has not always been favourable but stressed that the team is focused on learning and improving.<\/p>\n \u201cOur record hasn\u2019t been great, but we have learned from history and will try to play well tomorrow,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n When asked about India\u2019s strong batting lineup and the form of Babar Azam, Agha remained calm and confident, insisting Pakistan are focused on their own execution.<\/p>\n \u201cBabar is scoring runs, and it is not a concern for us. Hopefully, he continues tomorrow as well,\u201d he said with a composed smile.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n