"These two clean sweeps mean a lot for us as we have beaten two top teams" : Sarfaraz Ahmed

[Abdullah719]

"These two clean sweeps mean a lot for us as we have beaten two top teams" : Sarfaraz Ahmed

Sarfaraz Ahmed speaking at the post T20I series presser:

"I think our fielding is extraordinary in comparison to other teams. We take important catches and run outs which I don't think other teams often do. The players are young and they focus on this format which is why our results are good"

"Hafeez bhai has performed extraordinarily since his comeback in batting and bowling. The main factor for us bringing him into the team was his batting and his bowling is a plus"

"We have given chances to every youngster, we haven't discarded any player quickly. We always give chances"

"We know we have players who can make runs if they spend time at the crease. Sometimes you need to spend some time in the middle in these conditions"

"NZ team is very experienced in ODIs and they have very good bowling. We will have to play good cricket after the Asia Cup where we struggled"

"Waqas Maqsood was nervous in the first over but he came back well towards the end and his confidence will be high after picking up a couple of wickets"

"These two clean sweeps mean a lot for us as we have beaten two top teams. We have played outstanding cricket in all three facets"

 

[Usman Chadda]

They have beat the living daylights out of both Australia and New Zealand. The margin of victory in the first game flatters NZ, since they were pretty much out of the game with five overs left in their innings. When was the last time any team dominated both Australia and New Zealand in ANY format like this?

 

[MenInG]

What an amazing performance by these guys.

Absolutely miles ahead of their opposition.

 

[Madplayer]

They have beat the living daylights out of both Australia and New Zealand. The margin of victory in the first game flatters NZ, since they were pretty much out of the game with five overs left in their innings. When was the last time any team dominated both Australia and New Zealand in ANY format like this?

New zealand have been dominated to a similar extent many years ago but i dont think Aussies have looked so tootless ever in their history.

 

[Hawkeye]

Don't get ahead of yourself.

Would have received a heavy thrashing if these were ODIs - the format that matters and shows your skills!

Your test starts with NZ and South Africa ODIs.

 

[Vildoc]

It is a clinical performance by the Pakistan team. That it is T20 doesn't mean its not worth it. Its a base from which winning ways in Odi and Test cricket can be achieved in a few years.

 

[Hasan123]

Hopefully we can beat South Africa in T20s as well. Our batting is going to have to improve. 150 scores won't be enough.

 

[Ami]

Agreed base is there..just need to apply a bit more for odis...
Strike rotation is the key, just dont drop the anchor in the middle.

 

[coy0607]

very complete team, just lacking a true power hitter since Asif isn't living up to expectations and neither have Faheem or Imad with the bat

 

[Chokli]

Hopefully we can beat South Africa in T20s as well. Our batting is going to have to improve. 150 scores won't be enough.

We scored 180+ in NZ and in Zim versus Aus.

Our batting is thin but clicks for T20s on true pitches.

 

[Chokli]

very complete team, just lacking a true power hitter since Asif isn't living up to expectations and neither have Faheem or Imad with the bat

They'll do better on non-UAE pitches.

 

[the Great Khan]

rubbish team, rubbish performance..complete fluke..we should have scored 300 in all three matches..we have no bowlers or batsmen and no cuptaan..need to bring back umar akmal and umar amin..

 

[Plumb]

Got that Right Sarfi!!! Brilliant Performance just need to transform this into ODIs..

 

[Syed1]

rubbish team, rubbish performance..complete fluke..we should have scored 300 in all three matches..we have no bowlers or batsmen and no cuptaan..need to bring back umar akmal and umar amin..

Also don't forget how better sides like Australia and New Zealand will smash these minnow bashers......... oh wait

 

[Syed1]

I don't get how we are spectacular in T20s but mediocre in ODIs. Perhaps because folks like Imad, Fahim and Shadab are harder to hit out when you have 4 overs to play them, but when you have a full 10 overs you can get your eye in against them and hit out. You do not have to take as much risks as well in an ODI.

Our batting specially numbers 3-6 are also a serious concern in the ODIs. In T20s we have a very fluid batting lineup after openers. Anyone of the next 5-6 folks can come in as the wickets fall, but this not the situation in ODIs. Need to fix our middle order to do well in ODIs.

 

[coy0607]

I don't get how we are spectacular in T20s but mediocre in ODIs. Perhaps because folks like Imad, Fahim and Shadab are harder to hit out when you have 4 overs to play them, but when you have a full 10 overs you can get your eye in against them and hit out. You do not have to take as much risks as well in an ODI.

Our batting specially numbers 3-6 are also a serious concern in the ODIs. In T20s we have a very fluid batting lineup after openers. Anyone of the next 5-6 folks can come in as the wickets fall, but this not the situation in ODIs. Need to fix our middle order to do well in ODIs.

bowling is strong in both formats, batting is the difference in T20 and ODI

We just have too many accumulators in ODI's
Hafeez, Babar who have been soo strong in T20's play much much slower in ODI's. Batting is totally dependent on Fakhar. Imam is another slowpoke in ODI

 

[MenInG]

Unfortunately, Sarf's statements will fall on deaf ears

 

[Sidilicious]

Great achievement by Sarfaraz.

But, I would question with WC just one year away, why didn’t PCB organize more ODIs against top teams. Wouldn’t a 3 match ODI series against aus have done more good than a T20 series. They could have played these T20 games next year.

Nonetheless, nothing the players can do. They have been beating what’s in front of them.

 

[Abdullah719]

Great achievement by Sarfaraz.

But, I would question with WC just one year away, why didn’t PCB organize more ODIs against top teams. Wouldn’t a 3 match ODI series against aus have done more good than a T20 series. They could have played these T20 games next year.

Nonetheless, nothing the players can do. They have been beating what’s in front of them.

There were supposed to be ODIs against Australia as well which were postponed to next year for World Cup prep. Post PSL.

3 ODIs vs NZ
5 ODIs vs SA
5 ODIs vs Aus
5 ODIs vs Eng

That's the lineup before the World Cup.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan’s captain in all three formats of the game, Sarfraz Ahmed stated that statements regarding the captaincy create uncertainty in the dressing room.

“Players who are not performing well do not get affected by these comments, whereas the atmosphere becomes such that it starts to affect the team,” Sarfraz said while talking to ARY News. “The doubts that are not even there come in the equation.”

Sarfraz believes that the captaincy debate influences everyone, the one leading the side as well as other players in the squad.

Earlier the newly appointed head of cricket committee, Mohsin Khan talked about removing Sarfraz Ahmed from the Test captaincy, whereas, Ehsan Mani also said that they have not decided to persist with him in the World Cup.

Whereas, Pakistan’s former skipper, Misbah Ul Haq and the member of cricket committee supported him to lead the team in the World Cup 2019 because of his consistent performances and it has got too late to make any change.

“Sarfraz is leading the side from the front and one bad performance doesn’t mean that you start talking about replacing him,” he said.

“World cup is just six months away and this is not an ideal time to bring any change in the side,” he said.

https://arysports.tv/statements-regarding-captaincy-create-uncertainty-dressing-room-sarfraz/

 

[the Great Khan]

Also don't forget how better sides like Australia and New Zealand will smash these minnow bashers......... oh wait

everything is a fluke. Even playing on the pitch is a fluke. We should be outsourcing our cricket to an Indian team.

As for sarfaraz, man what a rubbish captain. Wins too many t20 series and even draws hard test series away. We need a captain that can speak excellent english, doff his cap to the opposition from behind the stumps, not go upto his fast bowlers and provide some advice just let them bowl wides and rubbish. Also the captain has to be really buff like a gym rat so young cricket fans can be awed by his muscles..I mean how else can you get power in your shots unless your built like a truck?

Finally we need to get a new kit. All this dark green stuff is annoying. We need some bright neon green with flashing lights on the collars and a theme song everytime a player bowls..maybe Nuch punjaban or something along those lines..innit..

 

[Sachin136]

everything is a fluke. Even playing on the pitch is a fluke. We should be outsourcing our cricket to an Indian team.

As for sarfaraz, man what a rubbish captain. Wins too many t20 series and even draws hard test series away. We need a captain that can speak excellent english, doff his cap to the opposition from behind the stumps, not go upto his fast bowlers and provide some advice just let them bowl wides and rubbish. Also the captain has to be really buff like a gym rat so young cricket fans can be awed by his muscles..I mean how else can you get power in your shots unless your built like a truck?

Finally we need to get a new kit. All this dark green stuff is annoying. We need some bright neon green with flashing lights on the collars and a theme song everytime a player bowls..maybe Nuch punjaban or something along those lines..innit..

Too much sarcasm for the captain of a team that is ranked #7 in tests.

 

[the Great Khan]

Too much sarcasm for the captain of a team that is ranked #7 in tests.

too much cockiness from a fan who's team took a billion years to win a test match..

 

[Syed1]

Too much sarcasm for the captain of a team that is ranked #7 in tests.

Very cocky for a guy whose side got smashed in two consecutive tours of England while this 7 ranked side managed to draw both times.

 

[DRsohail]

Nothing if you lose tests and Odi.

 

[Mamoon]

Focus on excelling in Tests and ODIs. Only minnows celebrate T20 success with mid-table rankings in Tests and ODIs.

The fact that we are doing bhangra over a meaningless streak sums up the culture and the mentality of the team.

It is a meaningless less streak because we have only played only one match against England in the last two years and none against India.

These whitewashes do not make up for the brutual humiliation that we suffered in the Asia Cup.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Focus on excelling in Tests and ODIs. Only minnows celebrate T20 success with mid-table rankings in Tests and ODIs.

The fact that we are doing bhangra over a meaningless streak sums up the culture and the mentality of the team.

It is a meaningless less streak because we have only played only one match against England in the last two years and none against India.

These whitewashes do not make up for the brutual humiliation that we suffered in the Asia Cup.

A 3-0 whitewash of New Zealand in any format will never be meaningless.

 

[Mamoon]

A 3-0 whitewash of New Zealand in any format will never be meaningless.

They were without Boult and Guptill - their best bowler and one of their best batsmen. Besides, it will count for nothing if we do not win the ODI series. Winning the ODI series would be the first step towards redeeming the Asia Cup embarrassment.

 

[babajee]

They were without Boult and Guptill - their best bowler and one of their best batsmen. Besides, it will count for nothing if we do not win the ODI series. Winning the ODI series would be the first step towards redeeming the Asia Cup embarrassment.

Boult is garbage in T20s.

 

[Plumb]

Boult is garbage in T20s.

Don't even try arguing.... there 'll always be something. Players, conditions, umpires, C team, dew, pitch... you name it and people got the excuse

 

[Mamoon]

Boult is garbage in T20s.

Don’t care. He is a top class bowler and can demolish any lineup on his day. New Zealand’s bowling is much stronger in his presence.

 

[Michael Chopra]

I don't care about T20Is. I just watch them for entertainment but that's it. I do care about ODIs. You can't lose to Bangladesh B team and then act as if they are the best team just because they are winning in T20s

 

[babajee]

Don’t care. He is a top class bowler and can demolish any lineup on his day. New Zealand’s bowling is much stronger in his presence.

Well his "day" never seems to come in this format.

 

[Syed1]

Well his "day" never seems to come in this format.

Haha other teams always seem to be without their full strength whenever we beat them.

 

[Hasan123]

Boult is garbage in T20s.

I don't agree with Mamoon but Boult is far from a rubbish T20 bowler. 37 wickets in 25 matches isn't garbage . At least do your research before labelling players rubbish

 

[gazza619]

I don't agree with Mamoon but Boult is far from a rubbish T20 bowler. 37 wickets in 25 matches isn't garbage . At least do your research before labelling players rubbish

I would take Boult over Amir/Junaid/Shinwari any day. So not sure why Boult has been called rubbish. He may have gone for plenty of runs in T20s on some high scoring games but he is a world class performer and swings both ways with pace.

 

[Syed1]

I would take Boult over Amir/Junaid/Shinwari any day. So not sure why Boult has been called rubbish. He may have gone for plenty of runs in T20s on some high scoring games but he is a world class performer and swings both ways with pace.

So let's discredit all wins against NZ when Boult isn't there.... then would you agree we should employ the same formula for other team's as well?

 

[babajee]

I don't agree with Mamoon but Boult is far from a rubbish T20 bowler. 37 wickets in 25 matches isn't garbage . At least do your research before labelling players rubbish

I'm not interested in stats.

 

[Plumb]

Good Lord.... Sarfi made a comment that this means a lot to them as a team. Rightly so anyone would be proud of a sweep no matter which format.

Now experts here always try to bring down pakistan and their efforts. Yes Boult may be world class, so???Pakistan didn't ask NZ to not play him. We had a opponent and we crushed them

If these wins hurts people that much they can take a cold shower and cry

 

[Usman Chadda]

They were without Boult and Guptill - their best bowler and one of their best batsmen. Besides, it will count for nothing if we do not win the ODI series. Winning the ODI series would be the first step towards redeeming the Asia Cup embarrassment.

Pakistan thrashed them in the final match with a forty year old debutant. See, we can all play this game but the fact remains that a New Zealand side got white-washed for the first time in years in any format.

No one thinks T20 series wins redeems the Asia Cup embarrassment. Asia Cup was an ODI tournament and a few ODI series wins will ease the pain of that mockery.

 

[Hasan123]

So let's discredit all wins against NZ when Boult isn't there.... then would you agree we should employ the same formula for other team's as well?

No one is discrediting the victory. The point is Boult isn't a rubbish T20 bowler. Pakistan deserved to win.

 

[Hasan123]

I would take Boult over Amir/Junaid/Shinwari any day. So not sure why Boult has been called rubbish. He may have gone for plenty of runs in T20s on some high scoring games but he is a world class performer and swings both ways with pace.

Boult is better than any bowler in Pakistan right now.

 

[Syed1]

Good Lord.... Sarfi made a comment that this means a lot to them as a team. Rightly so anyone would be proud of a sweep no matter which format.

Now experts here always try to bring down pakistan and their efforts. Yes Boult may be world class, so???Pakistan didn't ask NZ to not play him. We had a opponent and we crushed them

If these wins hurts people that much they can take a cold shower and cry

You don't think the expert brigade are doing exactly that these days? They can't wait for Pak to lose so that their suffering ends

 

[Saurav]

Not sure about the fielding claims

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Don't care about T20Is. Real challenge is ODIs.

 

[MenInG]

Don't care about T20Is. Real challenge is ODIs.

Here you go again.

T20Is are ONE of the 3 formats of cricket played by ALL teams of the world. So its OK if Pakistan are happy doing well in it.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Here you go again.

T20Is are ONE of the 3 formats of cricket played by ALL teams of the world. So its OK if Pakistan are happy doing well in it.

You don't find T20Is redundant? Too much of something is not good. We already have a dozen T20 leagues played every year, more and more playerd are becoming T20 specialist (which is a good thing). But T20Is are way, way too much. I don't think my opinion is an outlier, many people think so too.