"I hope Umar Akmal works hard, improves his fitness and makes a comeback" : Sarfaraz Ahmed

[MenInG]

In an interview for Sky Sports, Sarfaraz Ahmed tells Saj Sadiq why he hopes playing for Yorkshire will encourage more Asians in the region to take up cricket and talks about his dual role of wicketkeeper and captain and why Pakistan must now move on from the Champions Trophy win.

There haven't been too many cricketers in Pakistan's recent past who have made such a huge impact in all three forms of the game as has their 30-year-old captain Sarfaraz Ahmed.

At one time regarded as a marginally better Test wicket-keeper batsman than the likes of Adnan Akmal, Sarfraz rapidly established a reputation as a gutsy glove-man and was even termed as 'oxygen for the team' by the former Pakistan Test captain, Misbah-ul-Haq.

Appointed initially as captain in the shorter formats, Sarfaraz recently distinguished himself by leading his unfancied team to a fantastic victory in the ICC Champions Trophy in June and was subsequently awarded the captaincy of the national Test team in recognition of his leadership abilities.

Currently in England for a stint with Yorkshire County Cricket Club in their campaign for the NatWest T20 Blast, Sarfaraz spoke about his experience of playing with the club and hoped that his participation would encourage Asian cricketers of all ages in the area to come forward and play for Yorkshire.

"It's been a fantastic experience playing for a very famous county team like Yorkshire. The region has a huge Asian population and it's been very heartening to see first-hand young cricketers taking a lot of interest in playing cricket and also coming to watch some of the matches I have taken part in.

"The Asian cricketers in Yorkshire have a great opportunity to do well in local cricket and then perhaps get the chance to come to Yorkshire County Cricket club and impress here as well and who knows where that could lead to. I'd encourage Asian cricketers of all ages, girls and boys to play cricket, enjoy the game and try and make it to playing first-class cricket for Yorkshire."

The likes of Imran Khan, Waqar Younis, Majid Khan, Mushtaq Mohammad, Zaheer Abbas, Asif Iqbal, Younis Khan and Wasim Akram are some examples of Pakistan cricketers from different generations who have considered a stint in county cricket as an essential part of their preparation for international cricket.

In that sense, Sarfaraz Ahmed is simply following the standards set by some of the greatest Pakistan players in what he aims to accomplish during his stint with a county side as he explained.

"I believe that playing county cricket irrespective of the number of matches or the format is a chance to learn and improve as a cricketer," he explained.

"It's a chance to develop your skills and a chance to look at the professionalism of the English county circuit and utilise it to become a better all-round cricketer. I think as a cricketer you never stop learning, irrespective of your age or the number of matches you have played or wherever you have played your cricket, and therefore this stint at Yorkshire has been an ideal opportunity for me to learn."

Considered as having next-to-no chance of making it past the initial stage of the ICC Champions Trophy, the Pakistan ODI squad confounded critics and fans when they lifted the trophy at The Oval in June.

Almost written-off due to their poor performance against arch-rivals India, the Pakistan team put in a fabulous performance to win four matches in a row to win the trophy. To Sarfaraz Ahmed, the Champions Trophy title was a great achievement but should be used to build upon and lay the basis for a more glorious future of Pakistan cricket, with the title of World Champions in 2019 a distinct possibility.

"The Champions Trophy win was magnificent and the response from cricket lovers around the world has been brilliant," he reflected. "The win has been a huge confidence boost for myself, my team mates and I think it has lifted the morale of Pakistani cricket fans wherever they are. It came at a time when it was much-needed for Pakistan cricket.

"However, we need to move on. The Champions Trophy is now history and we must look forward rather than look back. Let's not be complacent, let's not think just because we won the Champions Trophy we are the finished article; rather, let's look at what we can improve upon and build on this success.

"We have a number of young players who showed their potential at the Champions Trophy and if they can carry on improving, they can make our team even better and a stronger force.

"We have a lot of hard work to do ahead of us and we should not get complacent just because we have won one ICC tournament. We need to look at the journey ahead and look at the upcoming series as well as build and plan for the 2019 World Cup where I believe we can do really well if we carry on improving."

The art of wicket-keeping is one that requires tremendous skills and concentration as it is but adding the responsibility of leading the team at the international level cannot be an easy job. In recent days, many former cricketers have warned Sarfaraz about the scale of the task at hand and the wicket-keeper captain is under no illusions about what is expected of him in the coming months.

"Wicket-keeping and captaincy are a tough ask and your concentration levels are thoroughly tested and you have to be on your toes all of the time. There is no respite as you are in the game all of the time as a wicket-keeper and then your team is looking to you as the skipper to lead from the front and be the focal point of the team. Yes, it's a tough ask to keep wickets and captain, but I have done it in the past at junior level and the domestic level, so I have faith in my ability to do this successfully and I am enjoying the challenge."

Sarfaraz's rise from a probable selection for the Test team to the level of a national hero due to his performances in all three formats of the game is as close to a fairy-tale as it gets in cricket.

The leadership skills needed to lead a Pakistan team in all formats are formidable and Sarfaraz seems to have been blessed with such a talent which has been recognised by the PCB. Sarfaraz for his part knows that he has a tough task ahead to not only prove his critics wrong but to continue taking his country towards success as he recently showed in the Champions Trophy.

"I never thought I would lead the Pakistan cricket team in all three formats and it's like a dream come true for me," he said. "I only ever dreamt of playing cricket for my country and never in my wildest dreams did I ever aspire to be captain even in one format, let alone all three formats.

"The support of my family especially my parents has been pivotal in my career and I hope I can perform to expectations and not let anyone down. It's been a good start to my captaincy and that's all it is, just a start. There's a long road ahead and there is no way that I just want to be complacent and live off the Champions Trophy win. There's hard work ahead for all of us."

The weight of expectations which have now been placed on Sarfaraz's shoulders after the retirement of Pakistan's much admired former Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq is immense. The manner in which Misbah lead the team from a time of great despair for Pakistan cricket to the zenith of the ICC Test rankings is something a grateful nation will never forget.

As a successor to such a successful Test captain, Sarfaraz knows that his work is cut out but is more than willing to take on that challenge as he stated: "No praise is enough for the way Misbah-ul-Haq, my predecessor as Test captain, lead the Pakistan team.

"The way he took on the role in 2010 under those circumstances and built the team and took them forward was just incredible. To then take the team to No 1 in the Test rankings was nothing short of miraculous.

"I played under Misbah for a couple of years and I learnt a lot from the way he lead and the way he captained the side and how he planned session by session. My aim is to build on the great work that Misbah did with the Pakistan Test team and carry that forward. If I can carry on the great work that Misbah did, that would be a major achievement for me."

There is no shortage of talent in Pakistan cricket but there wouldn't be many who have not been troubled by the manner in which Umar Akmal's career which had shown so much promise in its initial years seems to have drifted towards oblivion.

He was unceremoniously sent back from England before the start of Pakistan's Champions Trophy campaign due to issues with fitness and was also recently discarded from central contracts awarded by the PCB.

Can he recover his composure and return stronger for the benefit of the Pakistan side? Sarfaraz is disappointed but hopeful that Umar Akmal will be able to make a comeback to the Pakistan team in the future.

"As professional cricketers, we have a platform and a chance to show our skills to the world," he said. "It's the same for all of us, myself and anybody else and Umar Akmal is no different. I hope he works hard, I hope he improves his fitness and I really hope he makes a comeback to the Pakistan team once again as when on song, he is an asset for the team."

The tragic events of 2009 have left Pakistan devoid of any meaningful international cricket on their soil. Apart from a brief flicker of hope inspired by the 2015 tour by Zimbabwe and the holding of the 2017 PSL final in Lahore, the prevalent security situation has meant that international teams have refused to tour Pakistan.

All that may change soon as plans are underway for a tour by a World XI in September.

Sarfaraz, like many other Pakistanis, is overjoyed by the fact that such a tour could sow the seeds for future tours by international sides to play cricket on his home soil. "The World Eleven hopefully coming to Lahore next month is a great and positive sign for Pakistan cricket and for the future of the game in Pakistan.

"I am really hopeful that this series goes ahead and I hope that this series is a huge success. I'm hopeful that once the World Eleven has toured Pakistan it will be the catalyst for more tours by cricketing nations to Pakistan," he concluded.

http://www.skysports.com/cricket/new...-for-yorkshire

[Abdullah719]

Good comments by Sarfaraz, nice to see that he is now focused on the future and knows that it's not going to be easy. The Test team is likely to take a bit of time to settle down but I believe we have the players to take us higher up the rankings in the near future.

[backfootpunch]

Good to see him recognise the value of a fit again and in form Umar Akmal. One of the very few batsman in Pakistan who can attack 140+ pace bowling both on the front and back foot but on second thoughts it's not 2009 anymore

[ads101]

Management are keen on umar still if he regains fitness. Think selectors think otherwise and are selecting him due to pressure of management.

Mickey especially seems to go for guys who at some point showed ability in international cricket. He'd rather go for that, then try out new players first. Backs himself to get the best out of talented players even if they've underperformed in the past. Same reason why he brought back Irfan probably thinking seeing him in international cricket he looked quality without realising he can't last 10 overs.

Dunno if that's a good thing or bad thing. I do think umar has the talent to succeed in international cricket but hand on heart not sure I can see him returning. He just seems to get worse with time, not just his fitness but performance too, his technique and decision making skills (goes for the slog more and more now, it's as if he doesn't have the confidence he can forge out an innings anymore). Even in domestic he hasn't been doing too well these days.

[ahmedwaqas92]

Love Sarfraz to bits but I hope none of the Akmals never see the light of day in international cricket ever Again.

[bilalmasaud]

Love Sarfraz to bits but I hope none of the Akmals never see the light of day in international cricket ever Again.

i have been a big supported of umar akmal for most of his cricketing career and felt he was misused as well but now i think pakistan needs to move on unless akmal does miracles in domestic cricket ... we need to find someone who will show commitment to cause ... same reason i felt ahmed shazad needs to be discarded his lack of commitment to cause has been a worry ... selfish play should be punished in todays cricket

[ahmedwaqas92]

Love Sarfraz to bits but I hope none of the Akmals never see the light of day in international cricket ever Again.

This guy is probably the biggest leech in Pakistan cricket at the moment.

[Deewana Mastana]

Pakistanis always look for short cuts not hardwork you should know that.

[j_kazmi]

I wonder what sarfraz will have to say about umar akmal now.

[MenInG]

I wonder what sarfraz will have to say about umar akmal now.

Probably wondering how to keep him out of the team! Which captain would want such a player in their team

[Saj]

So on one hand we have the Pakistan captain hoping that Umar Akmal improves his fitness and can force his way back into the international set-up and on the other hand we have Umar Akmal behaving like a spoilt brat.

[Saj]

Sarfaraz's words lost on Umar Akmal.

Many have tried and many have failed.

[UN talkz]

SAJ SADIQ PROFILES PAKISTAN ALL-ROUNDER SARFARAZ AHMED, THE GUTSY STREET-FIGHTER FROM KARACHI

By Saj Sadiq

When a proud Misbah-ul-Haq walked off the field for the final time as captain of the Pakistan Test team in May of this year in the West Indies, he left behind an impressive legacy of success achieved against what appeared to be insurmountable odds.

When Misbah took over as skipper in 2010, Pakistan was a team which was unable to play international cricket at home, due to the tragic incident in Lahore a year earlier and with its reputation in tatters in the aftermath of a hugely damaging ‘spot-fixing’ scandal.

Misbah was tasked with not only uniting the team but also rebuilding the image of a team which was hitherto known for a scintillating brand of cricket together with its inconsistency. In seven years of Misbah’s guardianship, Pakistan were to rise from the ashes and reach the zenith as they experienced the top Test ranking in September 2016.

Whilst Misbah was busy taking his side to top in the Test format, Pakistan’s less than ideal record in the shorter forms of the game was causing concern to the Pakistan Cricket Board. The need was for a captain for the One-Day and Twenty20 teams who could help turnaround the sagging fortunes of the team.

With his reputation as a gutsy street-fighter from Karachi, who had no compunctions in telling off his teammates on the field if they stepped out of line or showed a lack of urgency, the case for his captaincy became stronger and stronger. His brand of aggression seemed to be the perfect answer to the requirements of the modern game and as a consequence, his elevation to the position of captain for both One-Day and Twenty20 sides was a mere formality, especially given the absence of other suitable candidates.

The English summer of 2017 is one that many Pakistan supporters will remember with fondness and it was a time which finally lifted Sarfaraz to the level of a household name. It was the Champions Trophy victory achieved when most pundits gave Pakistan little or no chance of progressing past the group stages, that was to add yet another feather to Sarfaraz’s cap. His leadership to take his team to the victory podium at The Oval after a spirit-sapping loss to India in the opening game of the tournament will always be considered a stroke of genius and one that has endeared him to fans of cricket around the world.

Those living in Yorkshire would have had a chance to see the Pakistan captain in action at Emerald Headingley Stadium later in the summer as a replacement for Peter Handscomb in the NatWest T20 Blast. Unfortunately, he was unable to stay the course of his contract due to international commitments, but the effect of his presence in the local Asian community was thrilling to see as throngs showed up to watch him play during the tournament.

Pakistan initially chose Azhar Ali for the job as One-Day Captain but given his poor record at the helm decided to hand over the captaincy to Pakistan wicket-keeper Sarfaraz Ahmed. Described back in 2014 as ‘Oxygen for the team’ by none other than Misbah himself, Sarfaraz had been marked as a candidate to lead Pakistan teams from an early age.
In 2006, as the captain of the Pakistan Under-19 team, Sarfaraz Ahmed had captured the hearts of his countrymen as he led his side to win the ICC’s Under-19 World Cup trophy with a memorable victory in the final against their arch-rival India.

His credentials as Pakistan captain were never in doubt, but first he had to establish himself in the Pakistan teams which he did with great gusto. With some gritty Test performances such as the one against Sri Lanka where he scored 103 or the one against Australia where his 109 was instrumental in inflicting a 221-run defeat on a powerful Australian side in the UAE, Sarfaraz soon established himself in the middle-order of the Pakistan line-up.

Supporters gather around the vehicle carrying Pakistan 's cricket captain Sarfaraz Ahmed upon his arrival from London in Karachi on June 20, 2017, after Pakistan's victory in the International Cricket Championship (ICC) Champions Trophy final against India.

Sarfaraz Ahmed’s determination to succeed and his leadership qualities were also the reason for his appointment as Pakistan’s Test captain to succeed the hugely successful Misbah-ul-Haq. The victorious summer in England, followed by victory at home in a historic series against the World XI seemed to be the perfect precursor further success for the newly appointed Test captain as he went into his debut series against Sri Lanka in the UAE, but the results were far from ideal.

Pakistan suffered embarrassing defeats in both Test matches of the series which must have been a sobering reminder for Sarfaraz that top-level cricket has ups and downs too. Whilst normal services resumed for Pakistan under Sarfaraz’s leadership as they whitewashed the hapless Sri Lanka ODI and T20I sides in back-to-back series victories, the lessons of a disappointing Test campaign were not lost on Sarfaraz.

His next assignment as captain of the Test side is set for May 2018 as Pakistan take on Ireland at home in a historic series. Ireland may be playing their first Test match but Sarfaraz will know that he has to demonstrate his resilience and ability to learn lessons from his previous experience to prove his credentials in this form of the game as well.

When Pakistan then arrive in England to play a short two-match Test series against England, it is expected that a much more mature Sarfaraz Ahmed will be at the helm of his side. The second and final Test of the series to be played at Emerald Headingley Stadium between 1st and 5th June in 2018 promises to be a tense and interesting affair, especially given the short series being played.

If Sarfaraz’s grit and determination in the manner he has lead his team so far is any guide, the audience at Headingley can expect a tough and hard-fought contest between two keenly competitive sides where no quarter will be asked for, nor given. Sarfaraz lifted a trophy in England 2017 against all the odds and come June 2018, he could well do the same again, in front of a packed house at Headingley.

https://yorkshireccc.com/news/view/6...r-from-karachi

[www787]

The only player I can think of recent time who has made successful comeback after petty fighting, ego, etc, is Malik. Completely a different person and player.

[Flat_Track_Bully]

All it will take is 2 good FC seasons for Umar to turn it around. Lets see if he can deliver.

[Shafi]

He is finished. We should move on. Hope he will not be picked in PSL today

[Zeeraq]

Umar Akmal scored 129 runs of 166 balls.

[the Great Khan]

Umar Akmal scored 129 runs of 166 balls.

and he's still bakwaas..

[Pete Rose]

and he's still bakwaas..

I am willing to bet my house that his innings would include rasping Blackfoot cut shots that any international level team would catch at backward point. Nothing about Akmal is convincing. I can only hope that selectors watch the games and not just the stats

[Savak]

Umar Akmal scored 129 runs of 166 balls.

The fact his SR is not 100 plus looks promising. Slight hope his shot selection was improved

[MMHS]

I am willing to bet my house that his innings would include rasping Blackfoot cut shots that any international level team would catch at backward point. Nothing about Akmal is convincing. I can only hope that selectors watch the games and not just the stats

Has a tendency to play in air and didn't try to fix that - doesn't get exposed much in domestic cricket, yet this is like 3rd or 4th century in a decade!!!!

[Abdullah719]

.

[j_kazmi]

How many hundreds has he scored in this FC season?

[Prince of Pakistan]

Don't think it's possible for the Akmals to be consistent. They will either be awesome or terribly bad. Cricket isn't baseball but a mind game. You need some intelligence to construct an innings.

Also not to forget that he blew it off with Mickey as well acting all diva. Mickey would have invested in him like he invested in Asif Ali if he had behaved.

U. Akmal needs a top top season to be even considered again.

[CricketDon]

Great knock. PP lose their tongues when he does well.

[Rana]

Good to see he is back to getting runs instead of begging to be noticed. We need a player like him in the One day side, but not an attitude like the one he has.

[Abdullah719]

when he does well.

It's quite a rare occurrence.

[Abdullah719]

How many hundreds has he scored in this FC season?

One

However, he has made a decent number of runs, overall.

[Hasan123]

Needs to keep it up. Also needs to keep his mouth shut and stay out of trouble.

[mmkextreme_1]

Great knock. PP lose their tongues when he does well.

That's the thing, he does well so rarely that people re-learn how to speak again (well its sort of like a stutter since he doesn't do that well consistenly), he needs to be consistent to the point that those people that do "lose" their tongues are quiet for good.

Not to mention, UA usually ends up losing his own tongue every now and then.

[Eagle_Eye]

One

However, he has made a decent number of runs, overall.

Why is everyone ignoring the most obvious.....
Beastly figures from Khurram Manzoor. By far the best batsman it seems.

[ads101]

Why is everyone ignoring the most obvious.....
Beastly figures from Khurram Manzoor. By far the best batsman it seems.

Khurram deserves a callup. Been dominating in list A cricket for years, and now even topping First Class. And a right handed opener is pretty valuable given as most of ours are left handed at the moment.

[Cric1234]

He's a better test batsman than Shafiq Babar Imam Usman Azhar and others aswell should be selected in the next series another attacking middle order batsman is needed.

[MMHS]

Umair Bin Yousuf looks interesting - twice passed 50, both converted into big hundreds, one is 163 & another one is 135 - 298 out of 357 in 2 innings and 59 in 6. Opener's instinct - once set, difficult to remove.

[the Great Khan]

Anyone on that list (unless they are a youngster) with an average of below fifty is not international material. Akmal has an average of 39? thats pathetic..even fawad alam who hasnt had his usual prolific season is averaging 63. Akmal jnr is a liability. Now watch as he tries to lobby to get into the squad based on this one bakwaas innings..

[PakLFC]

Umar will most likely not be fit to ever represent Pak again. Additionally he seems to get involved in trouble out of nowhere. I would be incredibly surprised if any of the Akmal's ever played for Pak again. It was Adnan who didn't get the proper chance to prove himself not the other two.

[Abdullah719]

Seems to be stringing together some good scores. 84 vs NBP today in the OD cup.

[CricketDon]

Another smashing innings from Umar

[Syed1]

Seems to be stringing together some good scores. 84 vs NBP today in the OD cup.

We need to shut down this tourney ASAP