Sarfaraz Ahmed determined to make Pakistan the number one side in all formats

[Abdullah719]

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed vowed to make Pakistan No 1 cricket team in all the three formats.

Sarfraz, who was recently appointed Test skipper as well, will now lead the national team in all the three formats. He became T20 captain after the 2016 World T20, when Shahid Afridi stepped down. He was nominated ODI captain after Azhar Ali resigned in February this year and after Misbah's retirement at the end of Pakistan's tour of the West Indies in May, he was appointed Test team captain.

"We will try our best to fulfill nation's expectation by winning future events also. It will be our effort to make Pakistan the No 1 team in all formats of the game," he said while speaking at a reception held by the management of a local hotel here to recognise Pakistan's historic ICC Champions Trophy win in England.

Sarfraz said that the win in ICC Champions trophy was the result of team work. "All the players worked hard and fought like a unit to emerge victorious," he said. He said initially Pakistan team failed to deliver but later on it bounced back strongly and defeated world's top side in the event to emerge victorious.

Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Super League (PSL) head Najam Sethi said it was heartening that Pakistan's young players played a key role in team's win in ICC Champions Trophy. He said the PSL helped a lot in bringing forth young players, who were now part of the national team.

Appreciating skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, he said Pakistan team captain had proved that he could lead from the front. He said it was encouraging that Pakistan team had started to deliver after a long time adding, "We've still to go a long way to improve our ranking."

Meanwhile, Champions Trophy winning Pakistan cricket team is getting receptions from all corners of the country, as recently, they were warmly welcome and honoured by capital city Islamabad’s business giants Hashoo Group and Centaurus Mall.

Hashoo Group chairman Sadruddin Hashwani and deputy chairman Murtaza Hashwani hosted a reception in honour of Pakistan cricket team here at the Marriot Hotel on late Wednesday night. The event was attended by skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Fakhar Zaman, Imad Wasim, Rumman Raes, Wahab Riaz, Shadab Khan and Hassan Ali, while PCB executive committee chairman Najam Sethi, governing board member Shakil Shaikh, Rawalpindi region head Major (r) Naeem Gillani, ambassadors, business community and celebrities.

Sadruddin Hashwani awarded cheque of Rs 0.5 million to Sarfaraz Ahmed and Rs 0.3 million to the rest of 15 players. Sharing his views, Sadruddin lauded the performance of the team and congratulated them for uniting the entire nation by virtue of this great win. “The young team demonstrated dedication, excellence and patriotism all the way. It was not just Pakistan cricket team’s victory, in fact, the entire nation stood victorious. Cricketers are real ambassadors of the country. Pakistan is a peace loving country, team is highly talented, Sarfraz led from the front and team enable us to raise our heads high.

Centaurus Mall, a privately run plaza owner, also arranged reception-cum-lunch at their housing society on Thursday. Pakistan cricket team skipper Sarfraz Ahmed was awarded with 1-kanal plot at the housing society, while centurion in the final Fakhar Zaman was given Rs 5 lac and other 14 players of the team were awarded Rs 2 lac each for their outstanding performance in the Champions Trophy.

The team was given welcome by Naval band, folk dancers also gave lively performance and rose petal were showered on players. In his message to the national team, owner of the housing society Sardar Tanveer Ilyas presented his whole-hearted facilitations on defeating India in the final. He promised to look after the sporting heroes and also announced apartments to journalist community. Sarfraz Ahmed also cut a cake to celebrate the team’s victory.

Meanwhile, the hosts, in a press release, said that they had discussed with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) about the cash incentives and also clearly informed the board that they would award Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed 1-kanal plot at the housing society, while Fakhar Zaman would be given Rs 5 lac and other 14 players Rs 2 lac each, which the baord agreed, and the prizes were announced accordingly.

http://nation.com.pk/sports/21-Jul-2017/sarfraz-vows-to-make-team-no-1-in-all-formats

 

[saeed5646]

Sarfi please stop these big statement and focus on what is next

 

[mmkextreme_1]

Sarfi please stop these big statement and focus on what is next

I personally don't think there is anything wrong with such statements. Gives the team confidence, this is the self-belief needed to boost confidence. Especially for the youngsters, also lets them know that its not time to chillax after the CT win.

Its far better then coming out and saying, "oh there is no talent..." or "its going to take time to do..."

 

[saeed5646]

I personally don't think there is anything wrong with such statements. Gives the team confidence, this is the self-belief needed to boost confidence. Especially for the youngsters, also lets them know that its not time to chillax after the CT win.

Its far better then coming out and saying, "oh there is no talent..." or "its going to take time to do..."

i have seen many many statements of him after CT and did not mind it but he is overdoing it now

 

[CadPakFan]

i have seen many many statements of him after CT and did not mind it but he is overdoing it now

True but he is just being confident, it's fine as long as that confidence doesn't turn into over confidence.

 

[mmkextreme_1]

i have seen many many statements of him after CT and did not mind it but he is overdoing it now

I feel the reason behind that is because he is probably being asked the same question by multiple media outlets thus the same response. At least there is consistency.

 

[sali]

its important for Sarfraz to setup these goals for his team while they are collecting incentives. He is setting up expectation from his team and I believe he will deliver it. Pakistan needs Sharjeel for short version and may be one more class batsman for longer version. They can do it.

 

[Square Drive]

Repititive, but if he's asked something, of course he's gonna answer.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Speak it into existence and don't let the mental midgets bring you down.

 

[The Googly]

My word - some sensitive souls around.
Read what he is saying. He is saying they will TRY to fulfill expectations. He's the captain and has to be positive.

What's with analysing every word and expecting him to be timid and make the perfect statements?
Chill.

 

[nads_rocks]

What would you like to him to say if asked a question?

No comments?
Just walk off?
Ignore and wave the questions off?

Come on get real. He is a captain in all 3 formats even if he didn't want he will be faced with questions everywhere. He has to give them a response and ofcourse he will look to be the best captain he can and get his team to deliver under him.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

He and his team has achieved what no pak captain has achieved. So let him speak. And I don't see anything wrong wrong in what he said. Do ppl expect him to say we lost MYK and Misbah so we will try to save the team from hitting no.8/9/10 ranking going forward.

 

[MMHS]

Nothing wrong in his statement - he did qualified that saying, they have long way to go to fix the ranking issue. Which will be the case - to break into top 3, PAK'll need to erase lots of recent past. Also, ranking works such that, it's difficult to improve position, unless one plays (& wins) more matches against higher ranked sides. I think, we covered about 23 points, from that 7-2 against PAK, IND & SAF from 9th/10th spot; while 4 matches has taken PAK to 6th from 8th (7 matches from 9th), but going forward, every point will need higher effort & ruthlessness.

I doubt, if a 3-2 against SRL would earn PAK positive or negative points!!! To have a realistic crack at top 4 by WC 2019, I think PAK team'll need at least 7-3, in next 10 ODI VS SRL & NZ, to start with. Test is a bit easier because every team these days are struggling away, hence everyone is pulling others down.

 

[UN talkz]

Odi's is the real task and to sustain that ranking is even harder.... T20'S doesn't matter at all and in tests despite losing YK and Misbah... they still are a strong team and the domestic cricket is producing good players for the longest format of the game.

 

[Abdullah719]

Sarfraz Ahmed on Pakistan Test captaincy and his nation's next challenge

It was a decade ago when Sarfraz Ahmed fulfilled a dream with his debut for Pakistan. He did not bat, but two catches to help snare the dangerous Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh sealed a memorable one-day victory in Jaipur against arch-foes India.

As proud as he was, this was not the prelude to a career as his country’s No 1 wicketkeeper as frustration soon followed.

For someone tipped for a bright future after leading the Under-19 side to World Cup glory in 2006, it has taken 10 tough years – culminating in June’s famous ICC Champions Trophy triumph and the honour of Test, T20 and one-day captaincy – for Sarfraz to dispel any doubts about his ability and prove his worth with the same perseverance and pugnacious style he has displayed on the field.

“I never thought like that, what my career would be like,” says the 30-year-old upon reflection. “My target back then was just to play for the Pakistan team.”

“My debut was in 2007, then I got dropped, then I was in and then dropped. “When I was not part of the national team I was still playing first-class cricket [for Pakistan International Airlines] and just trying to work hard. I did not give up, my dream was still to play for my country.”

“And since 2014 I have played regularly and Allah has helped me a lot. I always felt if I had one chance I would be able to prove myself. If Allah gave me a chance then I would take it.”

It was in the UAE where Sarfraz got that chance three years ago during the Test series against Sri Lanka – ironically his first opponents as Test captain when they tour in October.

“I made 48 in the second innings of the [second] Sharjah Test match and we won it,”he recalls, with Pakistan using the Emirates for home games following the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team in 2009. “After this, I continuously did well. Hopefully in the future I will keep trying to do this.”

That Sharjah knock paved the way for Sarfraz to not only establish himself, but excel with two centuries and three fifties in his next five innings against Sri Lanka and Australia. Belief and faith are key components in his progress, and that too for a Pakistan team that has so often failed to fulfil its potential.

Yet there is now hope that Sarfraz has created a ‘band of brothers’ – allied with talent in the shape of batsman Fakhar Zaman, and bowlers Hasan Ali and Mohammad Amir – to make them the best in all formats.

The Champions Trophy proved testament to that, as the eighth-ranked Pakistan overcame a 124-run opening group-stage loss against India to beat South Africa, Sri Lanka and England and reach the final against all odds. There they thrashed favourites India by 180 runs in their first win over their neighbours in a major tournament since 2009.

“It’s not just my dream, but the whole team’s dream to be the No1 team,” he tells Sport360°. “And just like we achieved success in the Champions Trophy, hopefully we can continue like that. “We know this team can get better. This team, it’s a mix of youngsters, seniors, and they are all good.”

“Our team may have some youngsters, but many of these players played with me for the Under-19s, juniors, in first-class cricket and all are very good. What they need is support. If they get it, they can get better. I’m not surprised by how well these guys did [in the Champions Trophy] because I know there are good players in Pakistan, at domestic level, other good players coming through just like Fakhar, Hasan Ali, Shadab Khan, Rumman Raees.”

“To be the No1 team is not just about winning one cup, but performing day in, day out and in every game at the same high level. Consistency is the most important factor. Before our tour to West Indies [in April]our position was not very good, we were struggling. But we won that series. And then the start of the Champions Trophy we lost to India. But we improved day by day.”

“It has been a very difficult journey, but if you are positive anything can happen.”

And Sarfraz will be positive about the greater responsibility bestowed on him after replacing Misbah-ul-Haq as Test captain. “If you play for Pakistan in any form it’s a great honour,” he says.

“When you are captain of all three formats there is extra pressure I know, but at the moment I am enjoying my captaincy and I will try to do the same in the Tests and just enjoy it, no pressure.”

“Our next target is to win the Test series against Sri Lanka. Playing in Dubai it’s like our home conditions, we enjoy it there. “Sri Lanka are a good side but if we perform well in all three departments then we can win the series.”

With the splendid Suffa-Tul-Islam Grand Mosque providing the backdrop and fans crowding closely for selfies and signed bats and balls, Sarfraz holds court in Bradford ahead of his expected T20 debut for English side Yorkshire against Durham today.

It is not quite Karachi after the Champions Trophy when he returned home to hordes of supporters celebrating the country’s momentous first ICC ODI title since the 1992 World Cup. But he feels just at home in Bradford, where the Pakistani community is prominent to the extent that a smiling Sarfraz knows the city is referred to as ‘Bradistan’.

He is at Bradford Park Avenue, a ground undergoing ambitious redevelopment in a bid to stage first-class cricket again – and whose cricket club has hosted visits from UAE junior teams recently. He was unveiled as Yorkshire’s overseas signing for the remainder of the NatWest T20 Blast as a replacement for Peter Handscomb, who has joined Australia for their tour of Bangladesh.

Compatriots Inzamam-ul-Haq and Younis Khan – along with Sachin Tendulkar and Darren Lehmann – are among the feted foreigners who have starred for the county and Sarfraz, determined yet dignified, is eager to impress.

“I met Younis at our Champions Trophy celebration and he said it was a very good county, with lots of great players,” he adds. “Our [Pakistan] players will improve if they play here [in England]. Hopefully I will learn a lot and transfer that to the younger players as well.”

“Hopefully there’s more to achieve for me too. In cricket, you are still learning day by day, so hopefully I will keep learning.

“My goal is to play my best for every team, for Pakistan, and when I finish cricket, people remember me with good memories. Both as a good player and a good guy.”

http://sport360.com/article/cricket...est-captaincy-and-his-nations-next-challenge/