Fans along with ex-international cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Rashid Latif have panned the Pakistan team management for making former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed perform the 12th-man duties on Day 2 of the first Test against England at Old Trafford.
Sarfaraz, who is the part of Pakistan squad for the three-match Test series is not in the playing XI in the ongoing Test, was seen carrying drinks and shoes for Shadab Khan during the 71st over on Day 2.
Reacting to the same, Akhtar opined that asking the captain, who won Pakistan the 2017 Champions Trophy, to carry out such duties is unfair and disrespectful.
“I didn’t like the visual. If you want to make an example out of a boy from Karachi, then it is wrong. You can’t do this to a player who has led Pakistan for four years and has won the Champions Trophy for the country. You have made him carry the shoes. If he has done it himself, then stop him. Wasim Akram never brought shoes for me,” said Akhtar.
“This shows that Sarfaraz is such a docile and weak man. He must have led Pakistan in the same way as he carried the shoes. That’s why Mickey Arthur always dominated him. I am not saying carrying the shoes is a problem, but the former captain can’t do that,” the Rawalpindi Express added.
Not only Akhtar, former wicket-keeper batsman Rashid did not like the decision taken by Pakistan team management. Rashid even put questions on Pakistan’s team spirit stating that senior players like Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz did not wear the Pakistani cricket kit and were strolling everywhere in their tracksuits.
“Senior players like Amir and Wahab who are also sitting out, are not even in their kits. They are wearing tracksuits. This is not team spirit, but the greatness of Sarfaraz because he is passionate about the game. This should not have happened,” said Rashid.
In the meantime, Pakistan’s head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq stated that such discussions could only take place in Pakistan. Misbah reckoned that there was no shame in carrying drinks for one’s teammates as he himself has done that despite being a captain.
“This type of discussion can only happen in Pakistan. I also performed the duties of a 12th man, when I was captain and was sitting out in a match against Australia. There is no shame in doing that. Sarfaraz is an excellent human being and player. He knows that it is a team game. When other players are practising outside, so the available player has to help out. It is not a matter of disrespect. In fact, it is big of Sarfaraz that he doesn’t mind doing it. Plus, it is a sign of a good team,” said Misbah.
