Pakistan all-rounder Salman Ali Agha has revealed the touching story behind his distinctive celebration after scoring a century against Sri Lanka, explaining that the gesture was inspired by his young son rather than intended as a response to criticism or recent setbacks in his career.
Agha delivered an outstanding performance in the opening one-day international of the tri-nation series in Rawalpindi on Sunday, scoring 107 off 90 balls to help Pakistan secure a 37-run victory over Sri Lanka. His innings included 10 fours and a six, laying the foundation for Pakistan to post a total of 305 runs.
After reaching three figures, Agha raised his bat and made a distinctive gesture while looking towards the dressing room. The celebration quickly attracted attention, with some observers suggesting that it was intended as a message to those who had questioned his place in the national side following a difficult period in his career.
However, the Pakistan batter dismissed that interpretation after the match, insisting that he had no intention of responding to his critics or proving anyone wrong.
“I do not have time to send messages to anyone or prove anybody wrong. I love cricket, I love batting, and I enjoy playing for Pakistan,” Agha said.
Explaining the inspiration behind the celebration, he revealed that his young son often makes a similar gesture while watching cricket on television. Agha decided to imitate that familiar movement after completing his century, turning a major sporting achievement into a personal expression of affection for his child.
The moment offered a glimpse into the personal side of a player whose recent career has been marked by significant challenges. Agha previously lost the captaincy of Pakistan’s T20 side and was also left out of the Test squad during the team’s tour of England. Those developments placed his international standing under scrutiny and increased the importance of his performances upon returning to the side.
Rather than allowing those setbacks to undermine his confidence, Agha used domestic cricket to demonstrate his ability. He made a strong impression in the President’s Trophy, scoring an unbeaten 300, an innings that helped bring him back into the spotlight and strengthened his case for further international opportunities.
His century against Sri Lanka was the fourth of his ODI career. Reaching the milestone in just 82 deliveries, he also recorded the fastest one-day international century of his career.
The innings was crucial to Pakistan’s effort to establish a competitive total. Agha combined attacking stroke play with the ability to build a substantial score, helping his side take control of the contest. Pakistan subsequently completed a 37-run victory, making a positive start to the tri-nation tournament.
Beyond his individual achievement, Agha used his experience to highlight the importance of domestic cricket in developing players and providing opportunities for those seeking to represent their country.
He argued that performances in domestic competitions deserved proper recognition, particularly when selectors assessed players for international selection. According to Agha, producing substantial scores in domestic tournaments is far from easy, and consistent performances at that level should be taken seriously.
“I think it is time to give domestic cricket the respect it deserves,” he said.
His comments reflect the importance of domestic competitions as a platform for players to regain form, demonstrate consistency and strengthen their claims for national selection. Agha’s own experience illustrates how strong performances outside the international arena can help a cricketer rebuild confidence and return to prominence.
For Pakistan, the victory over Sri Lanka provided a promising start to the tri-nation series. For Agha, it was an opportunity to reaffirm his value to the side after a challenging period, while adding another significant milestone to his ODI record.
Yet it was his celebration that revealed the most personal dimension of the achievement. Amid the demands of international cricket, public scrutiny and the pressure to perform, Agha chose to mark his success by copying a gesture associated with his young son.
The explanation transformed what some had interpreted as a statement to his critics into a simple family moment. It also served as a reminder that, behind the statistics and competitive pressures of professional sport, personal relationships can remain a powerful source of motivation and happiness.