Sarfaraz Ahmed spills the beans on relations with Babar Azam

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has refuted rumors suggesting a strained relationship with the current captain, Babar Azam, of the national cricket team.

Sarfaraz Ahmed spills the beans on relations with Babar Azam

Since losing his captaincy, Sarfaraz has not been a regular part of the team, leading to speculation about his equation with Babar Azam and the rest of the players.

However, in an interview with a local television channel, Sarfaraz clarified that he shares a good rapport with all the current players.

“My relationship with Babar, Rizwan, and other players is very good. We have played together for five years. Babar, Imam, Hassan, Shadab, Faheem, Rumman, Anwar – we all share a strong bond,” he affirmed.

When asked about his aspirations for a comeback in the 50-over format, particularly with the upcoming Asia Cup and World Cup on the horizon, Sarfaraz expressed his readiness for any opportunity.

“As a professional cricketer, I am always prepared to play in any format. The decision to include players lies with the selection committee and management,” he stated.

“I strive to keep myself fit and ready for every opportunity as long as I am playing cricket,” Sarfaraz concluded.

During a previous press conference in Karachi, Sarfaraz had expressed his desire to continue playing cricket.

“Do you wish to play in the World Cup this year?” a reporter had asked.

“As long as I am playing, the desire to play is always there,” he responded. “I want to play cricket,” he added.

Sarfaraz is regarded as one of Pakistan’s successful captains, having led the national team from 2016 to 2019. Under his captaincy, Pakistan achieved its first-ever Champions Trophy victory in 2017. He also guided Pakistan to a record 11 consecutive T20I series wins.

Although he was subsequently removed from captaincy after Pakistan’s T20I series defeat against Sri Lanka, Sarfaraz remained part of the Test squad. However, he had to wait for four years to make a comeback to the playing XI. Earlier this year, he returned to Test cricket during the home series against New Zealand, making a remarkable comeback with a match-saving century.