Batsmen must take responsibility, says Sarfraz
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KARACHI: The embattled Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed wants his batsmen to take responsibility during the upcoming tough tour of South Africa.
Talking on the sidelines of a book launching of a senior sports journalist, Sarfraz said on Sunday: “We batted extremely poorly in the series against New Zealand and paid heavily for it. The batsmen have to take responsibility and play long innings in the South Africa series. This is one big issue that constantly troubled us in the 10 Test matches Pakistan have played since the retirement of Younis [Khan] and Misbah [-ul-Haq].”
The wicket-keeper/batsman said the tour of South Africa would be very demanding and that Pakistan have to improve their performance drastically to challenge the Proteas. “We did mistakes against New Zealand and they were lot of them. But on the upcoming tour we’ll try to avoid them and play positive cricket against South Africa.”
Sarfraz lamented that whenever Pakistan lost, the captain was held responsible for it. “When we win people usually say Pakistan played brilliantly but when the team loses the same people start blaming the captain. This mindset has got to change because in other countries they don’t press the panic button when they lose.”
Meanwhile, Sarfraz said the cricket board won’t waste much time in removing him as Test captain if Pakistan keep on losing. “The authorities [PCB} will remove me without further delay if the team lose because of me. It’s not just me the entire team has to step up and good cricket.”
Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2018
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Comments (39) Closed
Dec 10, 2018 10:29am
Exactly, so when are you implementing it, South Africa tour?
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Dec 10, 2018 10:55am
Without Fakkar Zaman,Shadab Khan,Faheem Ashraf and drop Imamul Haq nothing going to play despite 6 failures in Test making 73 runs is sole reason for disaster along with Hafeez.
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Dec 10, 2018 11:00am
Your captaincy are weak, you have no management to run 11 players, you have under influence of Inazamam Haq, who are taking Rs.12 Lacs +medical+5 star hotel and medical + daily allowance, you are working as a puppet of Inzi, he only interested in his Imamul Haq nephew, you are saying we are one page, sorry a talent player like Fawad Alam, Hasan Khan are ignored, Inzi have Tousif/Wasti/Hyder these yes Men, as his selection members, this biased selection committee are to be terminate and new to be constituted. Sarfarz you if you will not speak independently that not give justice to young players than your time is over, you have to take strong decision for Fawad or you have to go home.
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Dec 10, 2018 11:05am
Batsman must take responsibility not Wicketkeeper
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Dec 10, 2018 12:09pm
@Jamil Nasir , looks like you have lot of problems with Sarfaraz...Do it has to do with.as the boy is from Karachi...I guess so....
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Dec 10, 2018 12:59pm
Look who is talking about the responsibility of batsman. What he has done as a batsman?
He should look at New Zealand captain, who won the match from a loosing position. Inzi should realize that the main problem is Sarfraz who does not inspire the team players. Sarfraz is a complete failure as a captain to motivate his players, as a batsman he plays irresponsible shots at crucial moments and time to time drops some crucial catches behind the wickets.
Inzi needs not to be Einstein to think that it is the time to replace Sarfraz and believe me or not, if replaced, sarfraz will be struggling to be selected in the team as a player.
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Dec 10, 2018 01:07pm
@Jamil Nasir , : correctly said, he have nothing, just backing of Arther + Inzimamul Haq, he want to survive on other blood like FAWAD ALAM, Hasan Khan and Anwer ali. Sooner Sarfarz removed as captain and player better for Pakistan, a well spoken english, justice done to young player, Inzi is over all Boss running Sarfarz, Captain have his views, Sarfarz have nothing. Remove him Captain and player. Give chance to honest player.
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Dec 10, 2018 01:29pm
Sir
Sarfaraz Ahmed must practice what he preaches. When did he last score a hundred in test cricket???
Thanks
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Dec 10, 2018 01:41pm
@Gin, Yes it the team performance...who give win ..not any individual... though the individual performance makes the difference... however.... every member of team need to contribute...this is the basics...
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Dec 10, 2018 02:37pm
He is right. However, as skipper of greenshirts, he must lead from the front before expecting his team's batsmen to take responsibility.
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Dec 10, 2018 03:43pm
This sadly is our captain, I want to support him, but I find it difficult, his comments and interviews are as bad as his batting...we need leadership from the front, captain that’s your job.
Look how Aussies fought all,the way! Sarfaz, is a liability, I would not change now given difficult tour, must find a smart youngster with leadership qualities that can be worked with.
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Dec 10, 2018 03:49pm
@Gin, he is the leader...leader leads from the front, wicket keeper is an all rounder, otherwise cannot be in the side just as keeper....imbalance.
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Dec 10, 2018 04:10pm
Sorry I read Sarfaz statement with more intent and realised this guy cannot lead from the front, his response to criticism is unbelievable, the leader has to lead from the front...shocking excuses. Avoid mistakes or address them big diferrence. May be he is not a batsman if so should be in the side...get a person to captain from the bench
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Dec 10, 2018 04:22pm
how is India winning ?
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Dec 10, 2018 05:24pm
Exactly sarfaraz you too. So when you taking the batting responsibility ? And Pakistan need some good alrounder like Hussain talat and under pressure batsman like fakhar zaman
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Dec 10, 2018 05:35pm
Look who is talking? Being the captain its your responsibility to lead from the front.
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Dec 10, 2018 06:10pm
@Shib, because Javed Miandad was from Khyber Pakhtunkha wasn't he?
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Dec 10, 2018 07:19pm
And you?
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Dec 10, 2018 07:26pm
@Qasim Ali, Inzi himself got to go, keep selecting his nephew who would have a hard time getting into playing 11 without his uncle, couldn't accept 1 batsmen from karachi "Fawad Alam" keep bringing Hafeez back despite continued failure of 11 years.
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Dec 10, 2018 07:52pm
Sarfraz, you as a Captain have failed. You as batsman have failed. First, take your responsibility, then blame others. We know you are NOT the only reason Pakistan lost, BUT you are the main reason.
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Dec 10, 2018 08:22pm
Absolutely correct! Our batsmen are not international level, only Asad and Azhar can be classified as international level but even these two get out on critical moments.
Babar and Haris are young and are trying hard but it will take time.
We have a big vacuum at the opening position, Imam is a failure. He’s the main reason we have lost. He needs to go. Pathetic and below average player. Inzamam is the culprit behind this debacle and not Sarfaraz. A captain can only play with what he has. Granted he hasn’t scored in this series but the series against Australia was won by his batting.
Get Fawad Alam in the side and try out others . Sami Aslam needs a long run as does Shan.
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Dec 10, 2018 08:31pm
Yes, good idea Sarfraz, take responsibility and resign. Hafeez resigned, what is holding you up or perhaps you do not understand what responsibility means? responsibility is not just a word, it means take the consequences, have some dignity and pride, save the nation from further embarrassment.
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Dec 10, 2018 09:11pm
Captain is responsible more when his own performance is bad like you Sarfraz
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Dec 10, 2018 09:13pm
Captaincies or not - Sarfraz has failed as a batsman for many many matches now. Very few times he has anchored innings. He is just not a good captain. But team has. I other player to be a captain either.
Sarfraz should be fired not for a bad captain but a bad batsman.
What stopped him from staying till the end on last day of last test ? Misbah would stay and rotate strike and stay on the wicket till the end.
We miss Misbah. He would have saved/won both the tests for Pakistan.
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Dec 10, 2018 09:14pm
@Shib, why do you people from Karachi always bring in this. Just because he is from Karachi doesn’t make him good when he can hardly even suggest to his bowlers when to review a decision
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Dec 10, 2018 09:27pm
Including yourself.
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Dec 10, 2018 09:29pm
Toothless captain having no say in team selection what else he can propose other than lame excuses. Immediately kickout inzimam with his burden_on_team nephew. Rest will be ok.
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Dec 11, 2018 12:34am
Batting and fielding, same old issues continue to haunt Pakistan team. A fully patriotic and genuinely talented players, including team selector, and coach(es), are needed. Money won't change things, it is the mindset that will change everything. IK won the world cup with a Pakistani coach. We need to get out of our colonial mindset that others will help us unleash our talent. Can't we seek help of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Younis Khan, Misbah, Saqlain, etc.? We can and the only thing that is needed is 'WILL'.
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Dec 11, 2018 05:25am
We heard same notion over and over, We need to find a new selector who do there job with justice and have some respect for National team and Nation.
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Dec 11, 2018 08:58am
Sarfaraz’s body language on the field is very intimidating. His yelling and screaming brings players under pressure. Did he ever go to school or had any sort of education? He should read John maxwell to motivate team mates. In fact the whole pcb needs some education including inzi.
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Dec 11, 2018 10:58am
Surprise to commentary of Ramiz praising Babar Azam, if Imam can play with great failure why Fawad is not selected. I heard about his Technic, what about imam,babar and azhar technic
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Dec 11, 2018 12:33pm
Batsman must take responsibility and I (sarfaraz) am not a batsman...
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Dec 11, 2018 12:39pm
Sarfaraz should stop yelling shouting ...otherwise players will not play naturally ...he is too much...never calms ...
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Dec 11, 2018 04:18pm
But he won Champions Trophy...how can that be forgotten...
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Dec 11, 2018 04:46pm
Batsmen selected in Pakistan team with their first class average are: Shan (Ave 33.8), Imam (Ave 34.7), Hafeez (Ave 34.8), Babar (Ave 37.4), Azhar (Ave 40), Asad (Ave 40.4), Fakhar (Ave 43.2) ...
Now, why Sarfraz, Selectors, PCB Managers or any Pakistani think that when these Batsmen are failure in domestic cricket, how can they going to perform in Test Cricket?
For a test batsmen, at least they should have good first class average. We can compare batsmen capability from their domestic FC Ave, as runs are made in same environment, on same pitches, facing similar bowlers.
At international level, rarely batsmen get selected in team with FC ave below 45. Good international batsmen have FC Ave above 50. Unfortunately, only Haris in Pak team has good FC ave (50.1).
So, why Pakistan selected low grade batsmen and left world class batsmen behind? - Fawad (Ave 56.1), Saad Ali (Ave 46.8), Usman (Ave 47.6) - Why they are not in team, and players with FC Ave 40 or below are in team?
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Dec 11, 2018 08:22pm
On the contrary. is there any other captain that has been groomed. if not who else can be captain.. and about Fawad Alam..if he would have been in any other place he would have surely played around 50-100 tests..with his avg he should be given as many chances as the rest
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Dec 12, 2018 01:15am
I don't know how to react to Sarfraz's statements. I will try my best to be as objective as possible. Firstly, a good captain admits making mistakes and performing better so I would say you have done that. Secondly, you are captain and leader so winning or losing you have to bear the consequences and people of pakistan look at you to help direct us to victory or lose fighting. I know it is a tough job but along with the title comes the responsibility if you cannot take it please let others have this opportunity. Lastly, as far as the team selection is concerned it is important for you to put your foot on the ground regarding the team you want and believe in similar to Imran Khan. Mikey and Inzamam are not playing the match so if you feel if they are selecting someone that is not right for the team you need to have this challenging conversation with them and as I said put your foot on the ground.
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Dec 12, 2018 04:41am
Dear Sarfaraz what about yourself? With the bat u have to perform also. One piece of advice is that stop yelling and shouting on the field. Did you saw Williamson how he is on the field? Please take some of him as lesson for yourself.
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Dec 12, 2018 04:44am
@Jamil Nasir , A new PCB MD a Pakistani British is being hired at the expense of 20 lakh per month soon.
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