Kamran Akmal’s poor showing behind the stumps for Pakistan during the second Test in Sydney has prompted the selectors to rush promising wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed to Australia ahead of the third Test in Hobart, PTI has reported.
“The call up has come as a pleasant surprise and if I get a chance to play I will do my best for my country”, the agency quoted Sarfraz as saying before flying out of Karachi. The third Test, a dead rubber, begins on January 14.
Akmal had a torrid time behind the stumps on day three of the second Test, dropping Michael Hussey three times off Danish Kaneria and missing a run-out chance earlier in the day. Hussey went on to score an unbeaten 134 and helped stretched Australia’s lead from 80 - at the end of the third day - to 175. Pakistan were the favourites to win on the fourth day but collapsed to 139 and lost the match, by 36 runs, and the series.
Sarfraz had toured New Zealand recently as an understudy to Akmal but was sent back home before the team headed to Australia, because the selectors wanted to trim the squad. Sarfraz, who has played eight ODIs for Pakistan, had replaced Akmal for the 2008 Asia Cup. Akmal has since been the first choice wicketkeeper and was even publicly backed by his captain Mohammad Yousuf during the Sydney Test because of his abilities as a batsman.
Re: Pakistan rush Sarfraz Ahmed to Australia - report
Whatever happened to sending reinforcement for the batting in the form of Younis Khan... Come on, this is just ridiculous. Sarfarz should never have left the squad to begin with because on such a long tour you should have 2 wicketkeepers just in case one gets injured and Australia/NZ are so far in distance for travel. They sent bowling reinforcement in the form on Sami yet the batting has been the biggest cause of concern on these 2 tours and no Younis Khan despite the pleas from your captain. That's a shame indeed. I think the PCB is pissed off at Younis Khan and therefore he will not be included even in the ODI squad to be announced within next 2 days. You know after the backing Mohammad Yousuf gave to Akmal and reports from Rashid Latif that Akmal,Shoaib Malik play politics in the team, that no way Akmal will be rested for the 3rd test. So what the heck is the point of sending Sarfaraz Ahmed?
ridiculous move by the PCB. Another knee jerk reaction without much thought.
How come Younis has to play domestic cricket to guarantee selection whereas this newbie is on the next flight out?
I think its more "political" in case of Younis than performance. Performance has never by criteria for PCB anyway else is team main kafi players nahee hotey :)
Re: Pakistan rush Sarfraz Ahmed to Australia - report
We need aggressive Captain, we need Captain like Hansie Cronje, Australia ko Australia ke andar ja kar haratay thay South Africans under the Captaincy of Hansie Cronje. Aisa time bhi aya tha Australians pit jatay hotay thay k South Africa se jeet jayen koi match, lagatar 4/5 one day matches Australia harty rahi hai South Africa se. Hansie Cronje ne Aussies ko bandth ke rakha hua tha.
Re: Pakistan rush Sarfraz Ahmed to Australia - report
in another development Pakistan’s tour management has publicly shuns PCB’s step of sending Sarfaraz to Aus saying that “we have not asked PCB to send Sarfaraz nor PCB asked us before sending him to Aus and we have not made decision of dropping Kamran from last test”
guys, get you pop corns and T ready for another Cricket Classic Drama …