Ahmed Shehzad: “Sarfaraz must now consider his career direction, especially as he’s not getting younger”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has advised wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed to have a long and hard think about his “career direction”.
His comments come after Pakistan red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie conceded that Sarfaraz “isn’t getting any younger” and it will soon be time to move on from him.
Shehzad also stressed the need to have a “solid back-up ready to step up” once Sarfaraz is gone, even though Mohammad Rizwan is already excelling in the wicketkeeper-batsman role.
“Sarfaraz Ahmed has made significant contributions to Pakistan cricket, notably winning the 2017 Champions Trophy as captain. Despite criticisms of his leadership and decision-making, he has consistently played well. After a tough period when he was dropped due to declining performances, Babar Azam supported him and kept him connected with the team,” he said on his YouTube channel as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.
“However, Sarfaraz must now consider his career direction, especially as he’s not getting younger. Jason Gillespie raises a crucial point, but is there a capable replacement for him in the pipeline?
“For now, Sarfaraz must now consider his career direction, especially as he’s not getting younger. The PCB needs to ensure there’s a solid back-up ready to step up.”
Sarfaraz was not included in the playing XI during Pakistan’s two-Test series against Bangladesh, which the men in green lost 2-0.
He then served as a player-mentor for the Dolphins in the Champions One-Day Cup, which was a 50-over tournament held in Faisalabad.
In the one match he played, the 37-year-old former captain scored five runs.
Sarfaraz was included in the squad for the first Test against England, but didn’t get picked in the playing XI once again.
He was then removed from the side for the second Test, which Pakistan won by 152 runs, and the third Test, which starts on October 24 in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan Squad for 2nd and 3rd Tests against England: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Zahid Mahmood.