After 4 years, Sarfaraz Ahmed was successful in making a great comeback in the Pakistan team with the bat, but he could not make a comeback with the gloves.
Image Credit source: AFP
Sarfaraz Ahmed has returned to Pakistan’s Test team after a long time. He returned to the team after 4 years after hitting a brilliant 86 against New Zealand, but now he has become a problem for his own team. Pakistan scored 438 in the first innings on the basis of Babar Azam’s century and Sarfaraz’s brilliant innings in Karachi. After Kamal’s return, Sarfaraz started being praised all over Pakistan, but when his team got down to fielding, he brought trouble for his team.
He missed opportunities one after the other behind the wicket. Not only missed the opportunities, but also gave free runs to New Zealand. In the first Test, Sarfaraz left 5 chances to send the batsman to the pavilion. Apart from this, due to poor fielding, 5 penalty runs were also given to the Kiwi team. Sarfaraz did not appeal for Cottbehind twice. Missed stumping 2 times and dropped a catch.
“We have to stop for a concussion protocol?”
Five penalty runs to New Zealand after the ball hits the helmet 🪖#PAKvNZ , #TayyariKiwiHai pic.twitter.com/JtFelmUgal
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 29, 2022
miss out on williamson
Sarfaraz took a sharp catch of Devon Conway, but Sarfaraz did not challenge the umpire’s not out decision. After this, he missed stumping Kane Williamson, at that time Williamson was only on 21 and Sarfaraz could easily send him to the pavilion, but he could not catch the ball in time. After this Williamson scored a century.
Not a great return to Test cricket with gloves for Sarfaraz Ahmed 🙄#PAKvNZ #SarfarazAhmed pic.twitter.com/QfazE3w2es
— Cricket Pakistan (@cricketpakcompk) December 29, 2022
gave free run
Sarfaraz once again missed the stump. Not only this, after missing the stump, Sarfaraz dropped the catch of Ish Sodhi. Not only this, even Sarfaraz Sodhi’s edge could not be heard on the ball of Mir Hamza. He left a lot of catches, stumps. Apart from this, he could not even stop the ball. When the Kiwi team was ahead by 48 runs, the ball touched Williamson’s helmet and passed between Sarfaraz’s legs. He could not stop it and New Zealand got 5 penalty runs on this ball. Sarfaraz did not score as many runs with the bat, as much as he gave a chance to build the Kiwi team with poor wicketkeeping.