“I try my best to control myself but that’s the way I've always played my cricket" : Sarfaraz Ahmed

[MenInG]

“I try my best to control myself but that’s the way I've always played my cricket" : Sarfaraz Ahmed

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed Thursday demanded more support for the team in the wake of a 5-0 whitewash in New Zealand, saying there was undue criticism on the team which was hurtful.

Pakistan was blanked 5-0 in the ODIs but came back strongly to clinch the three-match Twenty20 series 2-1 and reclaimed number one spot in Twenty20 rankings.

Some former players like Shoaib Akhtar went overboard in their criticism saying the team looked like a street and “Mohalla” outfit, blaming Sarfraz for selection shenanigans.

Sarfraz admitted the results in ODis were not acceptable.

“Whatever wrong we did I cannot defend that,” Sarfraz said in an interview to ARY Sports Show “Sports Room.” “I admit that we did not perform well. Our team was better and should have done well.”

Pakistan lost the first two matches on Duckworth-Lewis method due to rain and captain admitted there were chances to grab.

“I think we got chances in all one0-day matches but we could not grab them. We had problems on the new ball, neither our bowlers got breakthroughs with the new ball and when we batted we lost early wickets on the new ball,'” said Sarfraz.

Pakistan”s best opening stand was 14, with Azhar Ali dropped after the third match while Imama-ul-Haq failed with two and Umar Amin made nought in the single matches.

Sarfraz backed head coach Mickey Arthur’s assertion that there were fitness problems.

“We are professional cricketers and we should have performed well. Mickey cannot run after us all the time to keep our fitness levels high so we have to do that ourselves.”

Sarfraz admitted he tries to control his style of aggressive captaincy.

“I try my level best to control myself but that’s the way I have played my cricket and all my previous captains had done like that,” said Sarfraz.

Sarfraz is confident that the young team is heading in the right direction for the 2019 World Cup.

“I am sure the youngsters are coping well and we are heading in the right direction. There were only two senior players Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik while others were youngsters but they did well and coped the pressure well.

“Look we did well in the Twenty20 because Ahmed Shehzad came in and freshen the team. Then we have Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman who are all maturing well so that’s why we won the Twenty20 series.”

https://arysports.tv/need-support-demands-sarfraz/

 

[UN talkz]

Sarfaraz boy, you don't need those two seniors, they are not required, remove them and this team will turn into LOIs heavyweights

 

[CricketingMinds]

No comments on his own fitness (or lack of it, rather)???

 

[shokz1408]

Sarfaraz boy, you don't need those two seniors, they are not required, remove them and this team will turn into LOIs heavyweights

Haha bro I agree about getting rid of those 2 seniors, but in no way will that make us LOI heavyweights..

 

[Abdul]

No comments on his own fitness (or lack of it, rather)???

Biryani > everything else.

 

[waleed88]

Lol people complaining about his temperament had plenty of time to see all this in the first two seasons of PSL, specially if they caught swearing from the dressing room when Anwar Ali couldn't hit the final runs vs Islamabad United after bossing the game for most of the match, but choking in the last Mohamamd Sami Over.

Sarfraz was caught swearing his mouth off... Despite all of this he was made full time captain for all 3 formats after Misbah retired. Can't complain about all of this now..

 

[waleed88]

Thats like saying Arsenal signed Aubamayeng but don't know his temperamental issues, or his partying antics... or his generally defiant attitude, it all is part of a package

 

[pakistani pride]

What the heck did shezad do?
This means we are stuck with him for the whole year.

Also we WON 2 games without the 2 so called seniors.

 

[CadPakFan]

“I try my level best to control myself but that’s the way I have played my cricket and all my previous captains had done like that,” said Sarfraz.

What?

 

[Syed1]

Saifi let the haters talk. Don't change, it is what is getting the results.


Just tone down a bit, and cut out the insults to your teammates. Also do something about your waist.


Other than that Sarfaraz is the best option we have had in a decade.

 

[Bleedgreen4ever]

“I try my level best to control myself but that’s the way I have played my cricket and all my previous captains had done like that,” said Sarfraz.

What?

He was referring to IK,Mushtaq,Wasim and all the other aggressive captains we had.etc.

 

[DeadBall]

He was referring to IK,Mushtaq,Wasim and all the other aggressive captains we had.etc.

Had been so long since the Misbah, Azhar era that I even forgot that such a thing as an aggressive Pakistani captain existed. Sarfi should tone it down a bit against his own players though, They are newbies now but once they get established I doubt they will take this crap. We all saw the Hassan Ali episode who previously said that it was all fine and that it actually encouraged and motivated them.

 

[shokz1408]

The thing with Imran Khan is the players actually respected him, I feel with Sarfraz the players don't look up to him to that extent, he rarely performs himself and has a right go at bowlers and fielders.

I do agree that sarfraz needs to stay and we need that aggressive captaincy to take us the way forward, however 2 things need to change, he needs to improve his batting and wicketkeeping for one and lead from the front and second there is a limit to aggressiveness, often he just seems rude to his own players, that hassan ali and sarfraz incident... it wasn't necessary for sarfraz to go up to him and give him a right lecture at that point.

 

[DeadBall]

The thing with Imran Khan is the players actually respected him, I feel with Sarfraz the players don't look up to him to that extent, he rarely performs himself and has a right go at bowlers and fielders.

I do agree that sarfraz needs to stay and we need that aggressive captaincy to take us the way forward, however 2 things need to change, he needs to improve his batting and wicketkeeping for one and lead from the front and second there is a limit to aggressiveness, often he just seems rude to his own players, that hassan ali and sarfraz incident... it wasn't necessary for sarfraz to go up to him and give him a right lecture at that point.

Just curious. Is the 1408 in your handle referring to the short story by Stephen King or the Hijri year that you were born in.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Needs to work on his game if he wants to earn respect, his form has been awful and to go with that his fitness is terrible.

 

[shokz1408]

Just curious. Is the 1408 in your handle referring to the short story by Stephen King or the Hijri year that you were born in.

It's actually based on the 1408 movie, which is based on Stephen King's short story.

 

[UN talkz]

Haha bro I agree about getting rid of those 2 seniors, but in no way will that make us LOI heavyweights..

It will be start of Pak becoming LOI heavyweights

 

[shokz1408]

It will be start of Pak becoming LOI heavyweights

I guess it depends where we play, at UAE we can potentially be heavyweights, in NZ, SA or AUS we will be made to look like featherweights.

 

[the Great Khan]

so the gossipers and moaners now have a problem with sarfi and his aggressive attitude? I don't want a loser who tips his hat and bows donw to the opposition like past captains have done. I want a street fighter like sarfi...I love his attitude and im sick of the moaners..

 

[Hamstead_joy]

Watched the show yesterday,
Some timely comments by Sarfaraz, media has the right to criticize but the way they play their pathetic role in building divisions between the players in the side, is shameful. Nothing new, Pakistani sports media has always played a dirty role in bringing down Pakistani cricketers during tour, some of it has to do with former cricketers also, supporting their 'senior' friends in the side.
Sarfaraz behaviour is great for the team and I support that, when he shouts at someone like Rumman or Faheem he backs them also, whoever has issues can cry about the era of meek individuals like inzamam or Misbah who were more concerned for themselves than to win for Pakistan and it shows in their captaincy record.

I'm not concerned about Sarfaraz at all, more concerned with Hasan Ali. Wish to see him play and do wonders for Pakistan for the next 10 years. Since Shoaib Malik was removed from the tour and Hafeez sat out in protest, he has been affected. I don't believe the Hasan-Sarfaraz spat in the 2nd t20 was an isolated incident, it has something to do with the seniors and issues between the team and the management staff. His ranking has also taken a jolt . Really am worried about him as he is the key for Pakistan in ODI side. Amir is a selfish burden, don't care bout him he stays or not.