"Yasir had been told he wouldn't be selected if he didn't pass the fitness test" : Sarfaraz Ahmed

[Abdullah719]

"Yasir had been told he wouldn't be selected if he didn't pass the fitness test" : Sarfaraz Ahmed

Sarfraz Ahmed at a presser after the announcement of the Pakistan Test squad:

"Yasir Shah passed his fitness test this morning and as you would have seen, he was playing some good football today"

"We are hoping that Azhar Ali will be fit by the first Test"

"Players like Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Sami Aslam and Shan Masood will hopefully not let us feel the absence of MuH and YK"

"It would give me great joy if I can score a hundred in my first match and lead my team to victory"

"We have always performed well when our middle-order has performed well"

"Captaining Pakistan has always been a challenge for anyone"

"I don't have long term targets as Test captain, I am just looking to concentrate on the upcoming series"

"Inzi Bhai supports me a lot and takes into account my advice"

"Its very hot in Dubai and once we have looked at the pitches, we may decide to go with 3 fast bowlers and 1 spinner or 2 fast-bowlers and 2 spinners"

"Every player that was in the Champions Trophy winning squad will remember that tournament forever"

"The pitch on which Mohammad Abbas took his 5fer was the slowest one I have seen in my career"

"The true enjoyment of Test cricket is if it is played for 5 days"

"Currently Wahab is the only bowler we have who can bowl 145+"

"Amir is also starting to touch 140+ and Hasan when in rhythm can also reach 145 but speed isn't everything"

"Our cricket board has been making efforts to hold a bilateral series with India for some time now and we have always taken the initiative in that matter"

"I am sure that the Indian players also want to play against Pakistan"

"I always like to be involved in the game and its not that I am deliberately losing my temper at players"

"I always apologise to players after every series in case some player has taken what I say on the field to heart"

"If we continue to stay focused in the way we have been in recent times, it is hoped that the best team will be available for WC 2019"

"If I am doing something wrong as a captain on the field, then the coaching staff can send me a message to fix things"

"Sharjeel Khan was a player that we thought was setting himself nicely in all 3 formats of the game"

"We are warned about these affairs (corruption) from our academy days"

"Yasir Shah had been told that he would not be selected if he did not pass the fitness test"

"I had pressure on my when we lost the first CT game and then I was put on another kind of pressure after winning as people wanted to know how we did it!"

"Even if you stay away from media then news gets to you via Social Media and usually something which is against you"

"Seems that other cricketers are getting grey hair, whilst I am losing mine"

 

[mak36]

Sarfraz Ahmed at a presser after the announcement of the Pakistan Test squad:

"Yasir Shah passed his fitness test this morning and as you would have seen, he was playing some good football today"

"We are hoping that Azhar Ali will be fit by the first Test"

"Players like Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Sami Aslam and Shan Masood will hopefully not let us feel the absence of MuH and YK"

"It would give me great joy if I can score a hundred in my first match and lead my team to victory"

"We have always performed well when our middle-order has performed well"

"Captaining Pakistan has always been a challenge for anyone"

"I don't have long term targets as Test captain, I am just looking to concentrate on the upcoming series"

"Inzi Bhai supports me a lot and takes into account my advice"

"Its very hot in Dubai and once we have looked at the pitches, we may decide to go with 3 fast bowlers and 1 spinner or 2 fast-bowlers and 2 spinners"

"Every player that was in the Champions Trophy winning squad will remember that tournament forever"

"The pitch on which Mohammad Abbas took his 5fer was the slowest one I have seen in my career"

"The true enjoyment of Test cricket is if it is played for 5 days"

"Currently Wahab is the only bowler we have who can bowl 145+"

"Amir is also starting to touch 140+ and Hasan when in rhythm can also reach 145 but speed isn't everything"

"Our cricket board has been making efforts to hold a bilateral series with India for some time now and we have always taken the initiative in that matter"

"I am sure that the Indian players also want to play against Pakistan"

"I always like to be involved in the game and its not that I am deliberately losing my temper at players"

"I always apologise to players after every series in case some player has taken what I say on the field to heart"

"If we continue to stay focused in the way we have been in recent times, it is hoped that the best team will be available for WC 2019"

"If I am doing something wrong as a captain on the field, then the coaching staff can send me a message to fix things"

"Sharjeel Khan was a player that we thought was setting himself nicely in all 3 formats of the game"

"We are warned about these affairs (corruption) from our academy days"

"Yasir Shah had been told that he would not be selected if he did not pass the fitness test"

"I had pressure on my when we lost the first CT game and then I was put on another kind of pressure after winning as people wanted to know how we did it!"

"Even if you stay away from media then news gets to you via Social Media and usually something which is against you"

"Seems that other cricketers are getting grey hair, whilst I am losing mine"

Apparently he said something which suggested Azhar would bat at three, but none of these quotations seem to support that.

 

[Leo23]

azhar was always going to bat at 3. there is no way the management will introduce two new middle order batsmen at the same time.

also babar isn't comfortable at 3.

i've been saying this for days now because it is so obvious. quite a few ppers are living in denial over this or just don't seem to get it for some reason..

 

[htariq25]

azhar was always going to bat at 3. there is no way the management will introduce two new middle order batsmen at the same time.

also babar isn't comfortable at 3.

i've been saying this for days now because it is so obvious. quite a few ppers are living in denial over this or just don't seem to get it for some reason..

I agree babar shouldn't bat 3 but it's disappointing that they r going to make azhar bat at 3 as he has performed superbly in the last year or so opening and it's sort of unfair to him aswell to move him from a position he has cherished on. As far as babar is concerned I think he should bat 4 as this number is generally termed as one of the easier numbers to bat and I think he will thrive at 4 in tests. In an ideal world haris would bat 3 and usman at 5.
Ideal xi:
Sami
Azhar
Haris
Babar
Usman
Asad
Sarfraz
Amir
Yasir
Wahab/bilal (depending on pitch conditions)
Abbas

Likely xi:
Masood
Sami
Azhar
Babar
Usman/haris
Asad
Sarfraz
Bilal
Amir
Yasir
Wahab

 

[Abdullah719]

Apparently he said something which suggested Azhar would bat at three, but none of these quotations seem to support that.

To elaborate on one of the quotes:

He said that we don't have two experienced players in the middle order anymore but we're confident that the likes of Azhar, Asad, Babar, Haris and Usman can lead us forward while we have Sami and Shan as openers.

Not sure if this can be considered as a definitive way of saying that we will see the two left-handers opening at Abu Dhabi. I hope not.

Listening to it now to see if anything's been missed out.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Apparently he said something which suggested Azhar would bat at three, but none of these quotations seem to support that.

He clearly said that Azhar will bat at 3 in the press conference

 

[Abdullah719]

To elaborate on one of the quotes:



Not sure if this can be considered as a definitive way of saying that we will see the two left-handers opening at Abu Dhabi. I hope not.

Listening to it now to see if anything's been missed out.

OK more on this. He is saying:

We will try and make the middle-order strong. Our success in the past few years has been based on a strong middle-order. Azhar has been opening recently but before that, he was part of the middle order with YK, Misbah and Asad. I will also try to make a combination which makes the middle order strong.

Again, nothing definitive.

 

[Leo23]

I agree babar shouldn't bat 3 but it's disappointing that they r going to make azhar bat at 3 as he has performed superbly in the last year or so opening and it's sort of unfair to him aswell to move him from a position he has cherished on. As far as babar is concerned I think he should bat 4 as this number is generally termed as one of the easier numbers to bat and I think he will thrive at 4 in tests. In an ideal world haris would bat 3 and usman at 5.
Ideal xi:
Sami
Azhar
Haris
Babar
Usman
Asad
Sarfraz
Amir
Yasir
Wahab/bilal (depending on pitch conditions)
Abbas

Likely xi:
Masood
Sami
Azhar
Babar
Usman/haris
Asad
Sarfraz
Bilal
Amir
Yasir
Wahab

azhar personally doesn't prefer to open and he has said that time quite a few times in his interviews

the only reason why he opened was because that was the only way the management could accommodate babar alongside misbah and younis

azhar opening was never a long term plan

 

[Abdullah719]

azhar personally doesn't prefer to open and he has said that time quite a few times in his interviews

the only reason why he opened was because that was the only way the management could accommodate babar alongside misbah and younis

azhar opening was never a long term plan

Any reference for this? I don't recall him saying that.

 

[htariq25]

azhar personally doesn't prefer to open and he has said that time quite a few times in his interviews

the only reason why he opened was because that was the only way the management could accommodate babar alongside misbah and younis

azhar opening was never a long term plan

I suppose he could bat 3 then but problem is who opens then. Shan masood needs to improve significantly to deserve that position and I hope that Salman butt isn't given a chance considering he's an ageing cricketer and a cheat of the game. I rlly hope Shan masood performs now bcos our backup options are shehzad or butt. I can't imagine butt and Amir in same team. If we rlly wanna rebuild as a team we ideally need azhar to open.

 

[Leo23]

Any reference for this? I don't recall him saying that.

don't have the links etc but i clearly remember him stating that he prefers to bat at 3 in tests

 

[Leo23]

I suppose he could bat 3 then but problem is who opens then. Shan masood needs to improve significantly to deserve that position and I hope that Salman butt isn't given a chance considering he's an ageing cricketer and a cheat of the game. I rlly hope Shan masood performs now bcos our backup options are shehzad or butt. I can't imagine butt and Amir in same team. If we rlly wanna rebuild as a team we ideally need azhar to open.

unfortunately butt is on the brink of selection. one bad series for masood and he will be selected.

pretty sure butt will be in the squad for the tour of eng in 2018.

like amir he will make his come back at lord's. the very ground where both of them disgraced the nation.

 

[Boi]

don't have the links etc but i clearly remember him stating that he prefers to bat at 3 in tests

That was Babar tweeting that his preferable spot in Tests is #3, not Azhar. He's never spoken about his preferable position in the batting order.

 

[Leo23]

That was Babar tweeting that his preferable spot in Tests is #3, not Azhar. He's never spoken about his preferable position in the batting order.

nope i remember azhar stating something similar. it was long ago though

 

[Abdullah719]

He clearly said that Azhar will bat at 3 in the press conference

Do you have a direct quote? I just listened to the whole presser again and he did not say this definitively. Implied, yes.

 

[Leo23]

as for as yasir is concerned he should not be taking his position for granted. it is disappointing to see his lack luster approach to fitness

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Do you have a direct quote? I just listened to the whole presser again and he did not say this definitively. Implied, yes.

Said Azhar opened in last year but before that he played at no 3 for 6 years so I will try to make a middle order combination that is complete.

 

[Abdullah719]

Said Azhar opened in last year but before that he played at no 3 for 6 years so I will try to make a middle order combination that is complete.

Yeah I heard that too and it does seem to imply that they will play him at 3 but it's not definitive.

It depends on how you define 'a solid combination'. Shan at the top of the order does not scream solidity and I hope the management can see that.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Yeah I heard that too and it does seem to imply that they will play him at 3 but it's not definitive.

It depends on how you define 'a solid combination'. Shan at the top of the order does not scream solidity and I hope the management can see that.

Yes seriously its there for everyone to see that Shan doesnt have long term potential.
But just before that question he mentioned Shan and Sami as openers.

 

[mak36]

Yeah I heard that too and it does seem to imply that they will play him at 3 but it's not definitive.

It depends on how you define 'a solid combination'. Shan at the top of the order does not scream solidity and I hope the management can see that.

They are clearly considering moving Azhar back up to three, but I agree with your interpretation of his statement (ie nothing definite). Here's why:

We will try and make the middle-order strong. Our success in the past few years has been based on a strong middle-order. Azhar has been opening recently but before that, he was part of the middle order with YK, Misbah and Asad. I will also try to make a combination which makes the middle order strong.

The way I interpret the last line is him saying he will look at various middle order combinations, which may or may not include Azhar batting at three. It's clearly something they are actively considering but I am not convinced he has conclusively said Azhar is at three.

 

[Abdullah719]

The way I interpret the last line is him saying he will look at various middle order combinations, which may or may not include Azhar batting at three.

That's the impression I got, too.

Hopefully common sense takes over.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

if azhar is going to bat at 3 then i would have preferred sami and shehzad as openers not two left handers,,,,

Azhar has to stay as an opener... let the middle order fix their screws hard enough to cement their places and this is the right time and series to get more confidence before they tour abroad..

 

[mak36]

That's the impression I got, too.

Hopefully common sense takes over.

Here's hoping.

Even if they were moving Azhar to three, I think I would prefer Shehzad over Masood. At least then there is a l/r combo. Sami has to play.

 

[Mueez]

He clearly said that Azhar will bat at 3 in the press conference

Why are we guys worrying about Azhar Ali not opening? Shan masood will sacrifice his place for Azhar Ali on the field!

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Why are we guys worrying about Azhar Ali not opening? Shan masood will sacrifice his place for Azhar Ali on the field!

We (I) want Haris, Babar and Usman in the middle order Much more potential than Masood, Shehzad etc
Boht jeet liya UAE mai time to do something big and win series in Aus/SA

 

[Abdullah719]

We lost a fine player in Sharjeel to PSL fixing scam: Sarfraz Ahmed

LAHORE: Pakistan’s newly appointed Test captain Sarfraz Ahmed said on Saturday that he believes in setting short targets and the first target is to win the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka.

“As a captain, I don’t have long-term targets in my mind as it is better to go with short targets. So I want to take it series by series to maintain the good work, which Misbah-ul-Haq used to do as captain after he had had taken over the reins of the team in difficult times in 2010,” said Sarfraz said while speaking here at a function arranged by the Sports Journalists Association of Lahore, (SJAL) which honoured him for winning the ICC Champions Trophy in England earlier this year.

He said the upcoming series against Sri Lanka will be tough as the rivals had some seasoned players in their Test eleven and he would not take them lightly. “Sri Lanka is a major Test playing nation with some talented players and we can’t take them lightly despite their recent record,” said Sarfraz. “However, I wish to lead from the front and want to score a hundred in the first Test and also win it.”

Commenting on the composition of Pakistan Test side without its retired stalwarts Younis Khan and Misbah, Sarfraz said: “Yes the absence of Younis and Misbah will surely make a difference and it will take some time to fill their gap. But we have some good batsmen who will hopefully perform well in the series.”

He said youngsters were doing a lot of hard work and the fitness and fielding standard of the boys has improved significantly under the coaching of Mickey Arthur. “The boys were now very cautious about their diet and fitness which is great to see,” he observed.

Answering a question about how much pressure he will be facing as the skipper of all three formats, Sarfraz admitted that victories and defeats both bring certain pressures for a captain.

“But every player goes through ups and downs in his life and face good and hard times which I alsowent through. But I must thank God for helping me at every stage in my life and that has given me confidence.”

Talking about his ideals in cricket, Sarfraz said he really admired former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper Moin Khan for his approach to the game and fighting spirit. “Moin Bhai has played a significant role in my career and I am thankful to him for where I am today,” he said.

Sarfraz said he was disappointed, like the others, when he came to know about the spot-fixing scandal during the PSL early this year. “Pakistan lost a talented opener in Sharjeel Khan due to that scandal as he could have served Pakistan cricket for a longer time,” he lamented.

He said as Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq were the two most experienced players in the current Test team and he would be consulting them throughout to take advantage of their experience.

To a question, Sarfraz expressed hope that a very strong Pakistan team will shape up by the 2019 World Cup.

Speaking on the thorny issue of cricketing ties with neighbouring India, Sarfraz said the PCB has always tried to resume bilateral cricket ties with India but the latter also needed to step forward and make it possible.

“I think the Indian players also want to play against Pakistan and hopefully it will happen in the near future,” he said.

He said the final of the Champions Trophy against India was the most memorable match of his life and it was also one of the great achievements of Pakistan in cricket.

About the quality of the pace attack in the Test team, Sarfraz said: “Though we lack fast bowlers of furious pace, all the fast bowlers are quality bowlers who bowl with lot of variety and guile,” he said.

About the World XI’s recent visit to Pakistan, Sarfraz said it was a great occasion. “All the foreign players were delighted to be part of this successful and pleasant tour in Lahore after playing three T20 matches against Pakistan. Pakistan won the series (2-1) but the World XI was a very strong side and it was not easy for us.”

Later, Sarfraz thanked all the members of SJAL for inviting and honouring him. SJAL also presented him with a special shield.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1359589/we-lost-a-fine-player-in-sharjeel-to-psl-fixing-scam-sarfraz-ahmed

 

[CadPakFan]

My XI

Sami
Azhar
Shafiq
Salahuddin
Haris
Babar
Sarfraz
Amir
Yasir
Wahab
Abbas

 

[Syed1]

"Seems like other cricketers are getting grey hair while I'm losing mine" )


Funny Saifi. His press conferences are always nice to watch. A big departure from no nonsense Misbah or "don't ask negative questions" Afridi.

 

[KhanNn]

At least he has the decency of apologising to players if he has offended them. As we all know that ego can get to some of our cricketers unfortunately. Which in return turns to petty politics

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

At least he has the decency of apologising to players if he has offended them. As we all know that ego can get to some of our cricketers unfortunately. Which in return turns to petty politics

He has zero ego. I want to be like him in that sense. Humblest person you can ever see with no ego and show off. He has archived everything thrown at him be it u19 world cup or CT but you will never see him showing off. True role model.

 

[waleed88]

What are his thoughts on Fawaad Alam?

 

[sl-fan-of-pak]

Please dont play Shan and Sami in the same team