International cricket without Pakistan is incomplete: Sarfaraz Ahmed

KARACHI: Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed on Thursday said international cricket without Pakistan was incomplete, therefore the world needed to support cricket in the country.

“We still thank the Sri Lankan board for sending their team, despite the fact that some players could not make it to reach here,” Sarfaraz Ahmed said while addressing a press conference in Karachi.

He said visit to Pakistan had had been lucky for some players as was for Tim Paine who came along the World-XI team and now he was captaining Australia.

“Pakistan cricket is extremely important for world cricket. Every team has to support as Pakistan did to other teams,” he said.

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To a query, the captain said he would try to come up to the expectations of Head Coach Misbah-ul-Haq. “When Misbah was captain, he would send me at the spot where I could perform. He has given me full confidence,” he said.

To another query, he said Babar Azam would soon place himself in list of top five players of the world and he still had that potential.

Sarfaraz said Mickey Arthur and Misbah bhai had different style of coaching. So far the chief selector had given the advice to players that play your natural game, he maintained.

“All the selected 16 players have the potential to be included in the 11-player team. I second Misbah’s comment that it will be hard to find fast bowlers, specially for Test cricket in the future,” he said.

To a query, he said fitness was essential and without fitness you cannot perform at international platform.

“It is very easy to say that you will take to field and put 450 to board, but it takes a lot of effort. It is achieved through a complete process. If your openers give you a good start then it gives you momentum. We are planning to improve performance of upper order batsmen,” the skipper responded to a question.