KARACHI: Pakistan’s talented wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed who excelled with the bat on the recent Test tour of Sri Lanka has said that he played his natural game against Rangana Herath and Co to make his mark in the series.
“Chief coach Waqar Younis gave me the confidence by allowing me to play my natural game and that was the reason for my consistency in Sri Lanka Tests,” Sarfraz said in an exclusive interview here on Wednesday.
While Misbah-ul-Haq’s men lost the series 0-2 in Sri Lanka, Sarfraz stole the limelight with his positive and gutsy batting throughout the series, especially when the chips were down for Pakistan. However, he said he was disappointed that his efforts could not help Pakistan win any of the two Tests.
“It would have doubled my happiness had we won at least one Test match in the series,” 27-year-old Sarfraz, who had played eight Test matches for the country, said.
Sarfraz who had scored 223 runs in his previous six Test matches, topped the team’s batting averages in Sri Lanka by accumulating 265 runs at an average of just above 80.
“The string of good scores (55, 52no, 103, 55) has raised my confidence a great deal,” he said and added that scoring his maiden hundred was the most satisfying moment in his entire cricketing career.
Commenting on his handling of prolific left-arm spinner Herath, Sarfraz said it was Allah’s blessings that he fared well. “It was Almighty Allah’s help who rewarded me for my hardwork and positive approach,” he remarked.
Sarfraz dispelled the impression that Herath is not in the league of great bowlers. “Herath’s 23 wickets in four innings was an outstanding performance and he deserves the credit for out-foxing our batsmen in Tests,” he said.
He said he is now looking forward to the series against Australia and New Zealand and is keen to maintain his consistency.
He said a number of people have played a vital role in developing him as a cricketer including ex-skipper Rashid Latif, Prof. Sirajul Islam Bukhari, Pakistan CC owner Nadeem Omar, Zafar Ahmed, Azam Khan and others. He also thanked his supporters, well-wishers and friends for supporting him in his career.
Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2014