Former national cricket team captain Shoaib Malik said that Sarfaraz Ahmed should be included in the national One Day International squad as the White Ball World Cup is around the corner. Malik said that the wicket-keeper batsmen will prove their mettle in the upcoming tournament.
Sarfaraz returned to the national Test team after a four-year absence. In his first Test since 2019, he scored 86 after replacing wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.
The wicketkeeper-batsman enjoyed a brilliant 196-run partnership with captain Babar Azam before being dismissed by Ijaz Patel when he edged Mitchell at first slip shortly before the end of the match.
– Smart decision by Lala @SAfridiOfficial to use @SarfarazA_54 in test playing 11 today. I would suggest to use him in ODI's too as he is very handy in the middle overs, as the next white ball worldcup is around the corner. Good ton by @babarazam258 too.
— Shoaib Malik 🇵🇰 (@realshoaibmalik) December 26, 2022
All the best boys !
On Twitter, Shoaib Malik praised Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Interim Chief Selector Shahid Afridi for picking Sarfaraz for the Karachi Test match against New Zealand.
On the first day of the opening Test at the National Stadium in Karachi on Monday, captain Babar Azam scored an unbeaten 161 as Pakistan overcame a dreadful start to score 317-5.
Babar Azam and Agha Salman are currently at the crease with 161 and 3 runs respectively.
Shoaib Malik tweeted that Afridi’s decision to take Sarfraz for the Test was a good one. He said that the White Ball Cricket World Cup is near, so Sarfaraz should be included in the ODI team as well.
Malik said that wicket-keeper batsmen will be very useful in the middle overs.
Shoaib also praised Babar for scoring a brilliant century.
Meanwhile, Shahid Afridi praised Sarfraz Ahmed for his performance against New Zealand in the Green Shirts’ first match of the two-match Test series at the National Stadium in Karachi.
“Sarfraz vindicated his selection, great performance under pressure,” the former Pakistan captain tweeted.
Pleased with Pakistan's performance today, great comeback after the early loss of wickets. Special praise for Babar for another outstanding innings. Sarfaraz proved his selection right, excellent performance for him under pressure.
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) December 26, 2022
Afridi, who is part of the PCB’s newly appointed management committee, was named the head of the interim selection committee last week.
The former all-rounder resigned from a permanent role on the board. However, Abdul Razzaq and Rao Iftikhar will be Anjum members. Haroon Rasheed who is also a member of PCB Management Committee will be the convener.
