Salman Agha marked his return to international cricket with a century as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the one-day tri-series opener in Rawalpindi on Sunday. The 32-year-old scored a 90-ball 107 with a six and 10 fours to anchor Pakistan’s 305 in 49.5 overs, before skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi grabbed 3-55 to keep Sri Lanka down to 268 in 48.1 overs. The hosts now play England in the second match on Tuesday — also in Rawalpindi — in the series seen as a build-up for next year’s 50-over World Cup in southern Africa. Pavan Rathnayake (79) and Janith Liyanage’s 60 kept the visitors in the chase during a fighting 119-run fifth wicket stand.
Along with Babar Azam (45), the pair lifted the score during their 74-run stand.
He was sent home ahead of the third Test in England in August after captaining the team in the first match. “I was looking to hit the ball in the pockets to rotate the strike so that we can take our team beyond 300 so we batted aggressively in the end. Debutant Saad Baig scored a brisk 40-ball 39 with two sixes and three fours.
“These times come on you and I thought that I will go back in domestic cricket and make things right with my performances,” said Agha, who was also sacked as Pakistan’s T20I captain.
