Pakistan’s coach Waqar Younis has tried to play down the controversy over the selection of wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed, saying he is a patriotic Pakistani and will never do anything to harm the team or the country. “I am a very patriotic Pakistani. I will never do anything to harm my team or country. This is my team, I am all for them. We are going to try to make our people proud of us. We are going to try to do the best things we can do with our knowledge and experience,” Waqar said.
Sarfraz got an opportunity against South Africa on Saturday and he responded with 49 and six catches behind the wicket. “look I know this Sarfraz issue has been the talk of the town...Why he has not been played and why he was not given the opportunityIJ It is very easy to sit in your lounge and think why they are not playing Sarfraz, but we are the people who have problems in hands, we are sorting out these issues and sometimes it becomes very difficult for us,” the coach said.
Waqar had ended the post match conference abruptly on Saturday after being asked questions on sidelining Sarfraz. Waqar was questioned why Pakistan have a disastrous record against India. “I don’t have an answer for that. There were different eras, different teams and different pressure situations. I am not trying to give excuses but one has to understand that India has been playing in Australia for the last couple of months and we just arrived in Australia. It could be one of the reasons,” Waqar said.