Sarfraz denies rift with Waqar
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KARACHI: Pakistan wicket-keeper/batsman Sarfraz Ahmed has categorically denied any rift or problems with head coach Waqar Younis.
After being included in the side for Pakistan’s crucial game against South Africa having been excluded from the team’s first four games, Sarfraz scripted his team’s 29-run victory on Saturday.
Read: Waqar scoffs at reporter, wraps press conference over question on Sarfraz, favouritism
That resulted in thorny questions being asked from Waqar at the post-match news conference about a “potential rift” with Sarfraz which saw him being omitted from the playing XI for the first four matches.
Waqar responded angrily, citing it as a “stupid question” before cutting short the presser and leaving.
Also read| Waqar's assessment of Sarfraz baffling: Miandad
“I have all the respect for Waqar and all the reports, rumours are unwarranted,” Sarfraz said in an interview available on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) website on Sunday.
“The team is united and not only looking forward to qualifying for the quarter-finals but to play in the final. Waqar has been fully supporting and backing me and so have [captain] Misbah-ul-Haq and [bowling coach] Mushtaq Ahmed.”
Also read: Seamers, Sarfraz inspire as rampant Pakistan sink South Africa
In a separate interview, Waqar denied allegations of nepotism and favoritism in the dressing room regarding Sarfraz and said he was used to such flak.
“There is nothing new and we are used to these sort of things,” Waqar said. “I know it is an emotional time for the country and I guess everyone can’t be happy.
“We are trying to do our best and people who understand the game will appreciate that. I am a patriotic Pakistani and I will never do any harm to my country or team and we are trying to do everything to make our people feel proud of us.”
Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2015
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Comments (37) Closed
Mar 09, 2015 06:21am
Whatever the reasoning is behind ignoring Sarfraz. It was a Hugh tactical error by Waqar and Misbah. All the seniors were screaming and begging to have Sarfraz start the innings. But coach and Misbah persisted with NJ against associates. Tried to set up Sarfraz for failure against Hugh SA attack. Sarfraz though had other ideas and answered both his critics. Coach after the WC should be FIRED for this Hugh blunder.
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Mar 09, 2015 11:53am
my question is that if Sarfraz hs not been victimised then why he was asked to
face the bowling in the presence of Ahmed Shahzad the regular opening batsman and alrdy played 4 games whereas sarfraz was playing only his first game and as per Mr coach he was not fit to open the innings .
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Mar 09, 2015 11:56am
@Nadulal
i am with you the coach must be fired from his job as soon as the team reach Pakistan.
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Mar 09, 2015 12:06pm
In any formidable cricket, Except street or Tape ball Roadside/Street Crickets. They don't need proper Wicket Keeper. Perhaps Misbah and Waqar are selecting team for street Cricket. Completely, ignoring the fact that they have to take exceptional Catches and Stumping etc.
This is a criminal negligence or wanted to Humiliate all Pakistani within and outside the Country. Dropping regulation catches behind the Stamp in all 4 previous matches.
At least Waqar should be ashamed of his DEED and with this knowledge of Cricket, we beg him to seize his Cricket Activity.
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Mar 09, 2015 12:13pm
Yar ab publically to nahin kahe ga na.....Let the WC over, if it ends on positive note there will be no discussion and in case of negative ending, we will witness a thunder storm of allegations!
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Mar 09, 2015 12:15pm
I hope after this WC, they will do more training and make a better team, PCB should consider, Yasir Shah, Saad Nasim, Shan Maqsood, Asad Shafiq, Khurram Manzoor along with, Fawad Alam, H. Sohail, Ahmad Shehzad, S. Maqsood, Sarfarz ahmed, U. Akmal, W. Riaz. Junaid Khan, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali, Aamir (in future)
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Mar 09, 2015 12:25pm
Pakistan needs to change Waqar and Umar Akmal after the WC . MIsbah should stay as Captain and Train Sarfraz to be the next Captain. Afridi is retiring that is good. Hafeez is unfit as opener so should be ignored. We will find plenty players to fill in the gaps. Coach must not be from Pakistan. There should be no AKMAL in team.
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Mar 09, 2015 12:28pm
Great Sarfraz,again repeat previous performance.
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Mar 09, 2015 12:29pm
I request all emotional Pakistani Fans and specially to all so called critics sitting at different media channels to please avoid unnecessary conspiracies against Pakistan Team specially to Captain Misbah and Coach Waqar Younis. They have done really well to uplift the team unfortunately degraded by those critics in every means. Just for a thought please flash back for a moment and place Sarfaraz inplace of Nasir Jamshed and assume if sarfaraz got failed as an opener. All those critics would then blame Misbah & Waqar for not giving a chance to a specialist opener that would certainly bring the Career of Sarfaraz in danger. Now in actual, Nasir Jamshed as a specialist opener has been given a fair chance to perform and unfortunately he didn't so obvious choice was to bring Sarfaraz In, that was already in the contingency planning of Team management. I still think that management has took a risk to get him play as an opener against best S.African bowling attack else at his natural number i.e 6/7 he would have been much dangerous player and accelerate more runs playing against old ball. In that case Haris Sohail will be a better choice to bring as opener. Anyway Team Pakistan is gradually gaining the better team combination and game is still on. What ever may be the results, We all must now leave conspiracies and support our Team with a complete patriotic spirit.
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Mar 09, 2015 12:31pm
Nadulal the only HUGE problem here is your spelling.
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Mar 09, 2015 12:40pm
Pleasse let Sarafraz play without any interference. Media must not pump him too much, otherwise he will lose concentration on his game. His differences with Waqar or any one else should not be exploited by media.
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Mar 09, 2015 12:48pm
Things are starting to gel, missing pieces of the puzzle starting to fall in their places, all of a sudden their is a sense of unity and the cornered one's are not just cornered, tigers are emerging from the corner. This transition will carry them further in tournament, there is belief now and there is hunger, Pakistan has truly arrived to light up he cup!!
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Mar 09, 2015 12:53pm
What anyone can expect ... Sarfraz complaining about Coach and Captain who were discriminating against him just because he was from Karachi? Bias coach and captain are still running the shot, so obviously, every sensible person in place of Sarfraz would have done/said same what Sarfraz did.
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Mar 09, 2015 12:57pm
I am sure next time Sarfraz would say that Younus the Genius was protecting his career, what Younus the Genius told media, that is, if Sarfraz would play in team, Sarfraz career would get ruined, so it is better that Sarfraz do not play cricket, actually leave playing cricket for life, as when a cricketer never plays cricket in any team than his career in cricket could never get ruined ... Misbah also seconded Younus by saying that, genius logic of Younus is right, as when a cricketer is not given chance to be in team (play cricket instead of be a water boy) than there would be no career in cricket for him to get ruined. When Media questioned the logic of Younus, than we learned that media is evil and questioning logic of Younus because of personal grudge, as Younus the genius ‘one upon a time’ was great player.
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Mar 09, 2015 01:03pm
Sarfaraz you are real gem. The way you brought the missing bravery and killer instinct to this team and then the interview in Urdu and now this statement. I think you are ready to take as captain in the short formats of the game. Good luck!
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Mar 09, 2015 01:59pm
Guyz please don't boil your blood with unnecessary conspiracies. Waqar and Misbah exactly did what they actually planned "contingently". I still think that Sarfaraz as an opener is not the first choice his natural number is 6/7 where he could be more disastrous than any one else but since we don't have much choices left for our opening pair so better he should take that responsibility. Sorry to say media is playing a very pathetic role to create unnecessary conspiracies. Let them play according to their plan. We all will surely get enough time after the world cup for getting our emotions out.
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Mar 09, 2015 02:05pm
People do not like to lose, so, they will always say something. Sometimes just for the sake of criticism. Many senior players jump in the bandwagon (media) and say whatever they feel, forgetting what they had done when they were in similar situations - fail. If Pak was playing Sarfaraz and he would not have performed, then people would have said that why are we going with him when Akmal can keep?
The team looks united and after long time showed that they WANTED to win, not just play. This is a huge difference! This is what was missing. Fire in the belly, as they say!
All the Best Team Pakistan - GAME GREEN is ON!
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Mar 09, 2015 04:16pm
Sarfraz is humble, passionate and confident.
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Mar 09, 2015 04:39pm
I think those who were pleading for Sarfaz Ahmed inclusion were exonerated and those who were debiliterary stifling the popular sentiments are biting the dust.
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Mar 09, 2015 07:08pm
@Nadulal
Stop negative thinking.
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Mar 09, 2015 07:11pm
@haider
Nobody can stop anybody's tongue,
then what if Sarfraz has faced first?
He is was also selected as 3rd opener.
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Mar 09, 2015 07:13pm
@haider
Wow!!!!!!!!!!!Then next coach will come and soon you will demand of his ouster and so on.......................
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Mar 09, 2015 07:53pm
All critics aside and now that Sarfaraz has proven his worth, let's concentrate on the crucial match with Ireland to play high standard and competitive game to win it. Ireland is not a small team which scored 331 runs in their last match. be careful!
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Mar 09, 2015 08:33pm
If Waqar is not biased against Sarfaraz then he is incomptent. He should be fired in both situations. In any sport coaches are appointed on the basis of their qualification which includes academic background, history of coaching various teams as well as practical experience as a player if any . Having played cricket alone and being a high school drop out does not qualify you to be a coach. You need different set of skills to be a good coach compared to being a player. Also Sarfaraz first class record with an average of 40 + and his test record with 3 centuries is better if not equal to all the batsmen in the team except Younis Khan , Misbah and Harris. I am not sure what exactly qualifies as a " batsman" in Waqar's mind.
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Mar 09, 2015 09:43pm
@Doc PhD USA Sarfraz proved his worth when he led Pakistan under 19 as Captain. Now he is reaching 28 and still proving that on merit he should be in team since age 19. Recently, he proved his worth in ODI not only as W/K but as opening batsman too, against most potent fast bowling attack of Australia in UAE, scoring 131 runs in 3 matches as opener, where he scored more runs in every match than regular Pakistani partner opener (Shazad) and at higher SR in all matches, loosing his wicket after regular opener in each of those matches. In test, he hit 3 centuries and has average ~44, more than most Pakistani batsmen. Sarfraz is proving his worth since last 9 years, but in Pakistan cricket worth or performance does not matter.
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Mar 09, 2015 09:50pm
@Nadulal You are absolutely correct...the more they tried to hide the inside mess the more they are exposed.
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Mar 09, 2015 10:31pm
Waqar and Misbah have not been fair and true to their duty. Not selecting a quality player like Sarfraz was a huge mistake.
PCB has to look beyond old fashioned minds like Waqar and Misbah. Unless PCB (including coach, captain and management) are fair and select players strictly based on talent and not because of who they know or where they are from, Pakistan Cricket and the Fans will suffer.
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Mar 09, 2015 10:33pm
@Ali
And you should be appointed,it seems that you have all the knowledge to be a coach and under your coaching Pakistani team will rank number 1 in the world,all SA and Aus will leave behind Pakistan.Right!
Mr.All know!
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Mar 09, 2015 11:12pm
I am a patriotic Pakistani, but you have to remember that I am from the Big province first.
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Mar 09, 2015 11:43pm
@Ali - Well said. We cannot blame for trying Nasir Jamshed for two matches as he is an opener, but Nasir should have been dropped like Younus Khan after two failures. Waqar gace him the easy third game against UAE to get him into form and he deliberately let sarfaraz open aginst SA believeing he will be out in the first over.
There is pattern of Waqar Younus defending his favorite players while ignoring the ones he doesn't like. He was forced to select Sarfaraz.
Waqar Younus has damaged his reputation for good. He must be fired.
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Mar 10, 2015 12:49am
@Nadulal, Waqar's the best possible coach. His team beat Eng 3-0 (Mohsin took over a week before the series), beat Aus, reached WC 2011 semis, beat Aus 2-0, introduced young players, building a pipeline of bowlers etc. Please, let's not make ludicrous statements like "lets fire Waqar". I hope PCB isn't this naive.
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Mar 10, 2015 01:01am
@Naveed ,USA ....... if I have the qualifications and fulfil mit then yes. If you will keep on appointing people without adequate background , then incompetence is the result . Thats just common sense not rocket science .....Having an ability to bowl fat does not aline qualifies one as acoach . Why is it so difficult to understand ? Not to mention Justice qayyum reporr in which waqar was fined for possible involvement in match fixing ,......
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Mar 10, 2015 01:32am
The person that needs to be fired from PCB is Najam Sethi, and then things will become better. There was no reason for omitting Sarfarz and Fawad Alam and for including Younis Khan, who is just too old to play ODI.
Put the blame where it belongs.
Mr Sethi hand in your resignation please if you have any shame!
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Mar 10, 2015 04:25am
@Muhammad OK that's fine but why they didn't include him to play at no. 6 or 7 against India and West Indies.
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Mar 10, 2015 06:31am
@nokneejerk Waqar is the best coach? PCB is not naive? And you are superman!:-)
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Mar 10, 2015 10:42am
@Muhammad blunders in team selection tantamount to criminal negligence at best, stop defending the indefensible. You seam like Waqar in disguise!
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Mar 10, 2015 10:45am
@Muhammad management didn't take risk BUT planned to fail sarfaraz one day he wasn't even an opener and then he was tasked to face the 1st ball of the innings. .. how much discrimination that is...
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