Pakistan Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed Downplays Controversial T20I Omission

Pakistan wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed sought to downplay the controversy surrounding his exclusion from the playing XI in the recently concluded T20 series in Sri Lanka.

"I am just happy that the team won the T20 series and improved their international ranking," Sarfraz told reporters on arrival. "I have no issues if I am rested because of team requirements. I am not a part of the tour selection committee. My job is to give my best performances whenever I play." ('Kaneria Summoned by Sindh High Court on ECB Petition')

His exclusion from the T20 series caused a big uproar in Pakistan forcing the PCB chairman and chief selector to state they would talk to Shahid Afridi, the T20 skipper and head coach Waqar Younis to find out the reasons for not playing Sarfraz. (Waqar Credits Pakistan's Attacking Mindset After Thrashing Sri Lanka)

Even the former chairman of the board and now an influential head of the PCB's executive committee, Najam Sethi, said in a television show that the public had raised the issue of Sarfraz's omission. "Questions of dropping Sarfraz comes from the general public and we also want to know reasons of his dropping," Sethi said.

Sarfraz however insisted that he was just happy to get a chance to play in the Tests and ODI series in Sri Lanka and perform himself. "I am just happy to see the way we won the T20 series and how we performed throughout the tour. It is great news for Pakistan cricket as we are now moving forward," he said. He also added that Pakistan's dramatic one-wicket win in the second T20 match at the Premadasa stadium was heartening as it showed the never-say-die spirit of the Pakistani team.