Sarfraz impresses Talat

Published November 21, 2007

NEW DELHI, Nov 20: Pakistan team’s manager Talat Ali has predicted a bright future for the young wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed who made a promising debut in the fifth and final One-day International in Jaipur last Sunday.

Talking to reporters during Tuesday’s first training session of the visiting team in the practice area of the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, where the first Test starts from Thursday, Talat described Sarfraz as a natural glovesman.

“Personally, I was very impressed by Sarfraz’s wicket-keeping. This youngster is a born wicket-keeper. What really amazed me was the way he collected the ball. At no time it appeared that Sarfraz was playing his first game for the senior side,” a delighted Talat said.

“This boy has the potential to become a very good prospect for Pakistan. But it doesn’t mean that Kamran Akmal is a poor wicket-keeper. It is just sheer bad luck that Kamran is going through a lean patch behind the stumps and that’s why his performance has been well below par.

“But Kamran is capable of bouncing back. The amount of workload that Kamran had to face during the last year is one of the main reasons for his lack of form. Now that Sarfraz is in the squad we have the luxury of giving Kamran the much needed rest when the time merits,” Talat concluded.

Opinion

Editorial

Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....
Soft on traders
08 Jun, 2026

Soft on traders

THE Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200m has been designed as a ‘pragmatic...
Ceasefire in name
Updated 08 Jun, 2026

Ceasefire in name

Both sides accuse the other of violating the truce that was supposed to halt the conflict in April, yet neither appears willing to abandon negotiations altogether.
Damaged childhoods
08 Jun, 2026

Damaged childhoods

CHILD abuse is so prevalent that the UN ranked Pakistan as the least safe country for children. Even so, more than...