"I tried to concentrate more in this game and I got a hundred" : Sarfaraz Ahmed

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Sarfaraz Ahmed speaking to the media today

"I have been trying to play a long innings in domestic cricket - I had a few fifties before but nothing too long, but today I tried to concentrate more and so am thankful to The Almighty that I got a hundred and I hope I can get more runs in the upcoming matches"

"I would like to congratulate Fawad Alam for scoring a double hundred and also 12k runs as that is a big achievement"

"I am not thinking too far ahead, my focus now is on my fitness and on my cricket for now"

"Fawad's name has been discussed a lot [for national selection] as whenever a Pakistan side is chosen, the best players are considered"

"One good thing about Fawad is that he keeps on persisting and scoring runs in every season - this is a good message for all cricketers to keep on trying and if they do that, and ALLAH so wills, then no one can stop him from playing for Pakistan"

"Yasir Shah is also our number one bowler, and he expressed himself in his own style after taking that wicket"

"Steve Smith is a batsman who can make a strong comeback against Yasir Shah"

"But, I am hopeful that Yasir Shah will get Smith out again as the Adelaide pitch is such that he will get help from the pitch and the ball will spin there; I feel that Yasir Shah can trouble Smith again"

"Whether you play 4-Day or Tests, the fact is that you have to take 20 wickets to win a match; Our batting was doing well last year also but this time around our bowling is a little inexperienced but as I said Adelaide will be a spinning pitch and Yasir Shah could turn the game in our favour in the same way in the past he has brought victories to Pakistan; So I am hopeful that Pakistan bowling will also do well along with their batting"

"International cricket is one where there is a lot of pressure on you as a player, so sometimes a rest can do you good"

"Fawad Alam has never complained to me about not being selected for the national team, he keeps on performing and the best way to answer [your critics] is with the bat and Fawad Alam's best quality is that he keeps on answering with his bat"

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Whatever opinions one has about Fawads cricketing skills, he is an undeniably great person. It baffles me that he is a Pakistani cricketer

 

[KyoOne]

Whatever opinions one has about Fawads cricketing skills, he is an undeniably great person. It baffles me that he is a Pakistani cricketer

True that. Not once has he whined, despite being the most discriminated cricketer in history of the country

 

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Sarfaraz looking lean, scoring runs, Rizwan should know his position isn't assured

 

[Amjid Javed]

If Sarfaraz concentrated all the time and didnt become complacent he probably wouldnt be out of the team.

Sadly to many pakistan players perform domestically get into main side, have a couple of games then become complacent. No drive or desire to keep performing or improve.

 

[topspin]

Whatever opinions one has about Fawads cricketing skills, he is an undeniably great person. It baffles me that he is a Pakistani cricketer

Indeed. I have always thought Pakistan's test cricket would have been in a better place during the 2010s, if he had replaced Misbah in 2013, following the Zimbabwe tour.

 

[SensiblePakFan]

True that. Not once has he whined, despite being the most discriminated cricketer in history of the country

Yup, Sarfraz even said when he was captain he never once heard fawad beg him for anything.

 

[aloo paratha]

Sarfaraz looking lean, scoring runs, Rizwan should know his position isn't assured

Bro Rizwan just scored 95 against the best bowler in the world in his own backyard. Sarfraz could only dream. Give Rizwan a year before making him insecure about his position in the team.

 

[Saj]

Maybe there was a lack of concentration and some complacency which resulted in poor form with the bat.

Sometimes a kick up the rear is what's needed.

 

[BaankeJi]

Can someone ask him who stopped him from concentrating earlier??Or maybe he thought his job was not that important or difficult.

 

[gazza619]

So he was not concentrating enough for the past few years? How unprofessional.

The problem i have with Sarfaraz is that he cant hit the ball. We have enough nudgers in the side.

 

[Hawkeye]

Interesting.

So he's gonna do a press conference after each domestic 50 or 100 he scores.

Clever.

 

[sshakir411]

Someone like Fawad has been ignored while the likes of Haris Sohail get to bat at 3 because his cover driver are slick. But hey talunt

 

[azimiqbal]

All good praising fawad now , when you were captain why did you not pick him in any of your squads?

 

[Down2Earth]

Should have been concentrating when you were captain too rather yawning every 2 minutes

 

[Abdullah719]

Interesting.

So he's gonna do a press conference after each domestic 50 or 100 he scores.

Clever.

It's his first FC hundred in 5 years, so quite a momentous achievement!

 

[MenInG]

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has revealed that he knew his sacking from the squad and captainship was on cards and he was mentally prepared for his ouster. With Pakistan wrapping up a forgetful ICC World Cup 2019 in England and Wales, the Green Army led by then skipper Sarfaraz met a second-string Sri Lankan side to resume cricket ties in their own backyard. Though Pakistan managed to return back to winnings ways by securing their first One Day Internationals (ODI) series after a disappointing World Cup, the Green Army was thrashed by The Islanders 3-0 in the T20I series at home.

The whitewash paved way for Sarfaraz to lose the captaincy honour across all formats along with his place in the squad. The sending-off saw Pakistan rising to a new dawn as Sarfaraz was succeeded by Babar Azam (T20I captain) and Azhar Ali (Test captain) in the two formats of the game. Fast forwarding the clock to present, nothing has changed in terms of form and performances staged by Pakistan. They have continued to falter across all formats and are on verge of extending their dreadful losing streak in Australia.

I already had an idea that I was going to be sacked: Sarfaraz

Reflecting upon the change in guards that saw him part ways from the squad, Sarfaraz has seemingly digested the blot on his career and captaincy by treating it as a blessing in disguise. "To be honest, I already had an idea that I was going to be sacked so I was mentally prepared when it actually happened," Sarfaraz told former captain Shahid Afridi while talking on the latter's official YouTube channel.

Sarfaraz not concerned about Pakistan national team

The ousted wicketkeeper-batsman said that his seniors insisted him to champion the domestic circuit and further added that a break from non-stop cricket was also much needed. "All the seniors advised me to go back to domestic cricket and that’s what I’m doing. Sometimes such a break is necessary too because I had been playing nonstop high-pressure cricket for the last three years," he said. "Right now my sole focus is on domestic cricket and am not concerned about Pakistan national team at all. I want to work on my game so that whenever I am called upon, I am ready to do the job," he added.

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports...d-reveals-he-knew-sacking-was-on-cards/521172