{
  "id": 15541272,
  "title": "Salman Agha reveals emotional reason behind his record century celebration",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/salman-agha-reveals-emotional-reason-behind-his-record-century",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-19T01:48:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/sport/cricket/salman-agha-reveals-emotional-reason-behind-his-record-century-celebration-1.500715349"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pakistan cricket star Salman Ali Agha made a strong return to international cricket when he scored an impressive century against Sri Lanka on Sunday. However, it was his unconventional celebration that captured the attention of fans. Instead of showing off his talent or proving his critics wrong, Agha dedicated the celebration to his young son. \"I love cricket, I love batting, and I love playing for Pakistan,\" Agha said after the game. The 32-year-old batter hit 107 runs off 90 balls, including 10 fours and a six, leading Pakistan to a 37-run victory in Rawalpindi. This performance marked Agha's fourth ODI century, and it was the fastest one he had ever scored. Agha's success came after a challenging period for him, including losing the T20I captaincy and being dropped from the Test squad during the England tour. Prior to this, Agha had scored an unbeaten 300 in the President's Trophy domestic cricket competition. Agha also took the opportunity to advocate for domestic cricket, emphasizing that the efforts of players at that level should be recognized more. For Agha, Sunday's century was a testament to his skill, but the celebration held a more personal significance. It was a special moment for his young son.",
  "summary": "Salman Ali Agha made a strong comeback to international cricket by scoring a brilliant century against Sri Lanka on Sunday, but it was his unique celebration that made people talk. Was it a way of showing his critics he was still relevant after losing the T20I captaincy and being left out of the Test squad? Not exactly. The Pakistan batter explained that the celebration was actually for his young…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Two moments of madness cost Sri Lanka as Pakistan win tri-series opener after Salman Ali Agha century",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/two-moments-of-madness-cost-sri-lanka-as-pakistan-win-tri-series",
        "published": "2026-10-18T17:02:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Press Journal",
        "title": "Salman Ali Agha's Wife Shares Heart-Warming Moment As Son Watches Father's Century Against Sri Lanka",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/salman-ali-aghas-wife-shares-heart-warming-moment-as-son-watches",
        "published": "2026-10-18T17:09:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Island Sri Lanka",
        "title": "Pakistan quicks seal win after Salman Agha ton sets tone",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/pakistan-quicks-seal-win-after-salman-agha-ton-sets-tone",
        "published": "2026-10-18T19:01:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}