Who is... Sarfraz Ahmed

[Mercenary]

It would seem that under the pretence of a hand injury Kamran Akmal is being dropped from the Pakistan team and being replaced with a new keeper. Most people would have expected the Pak A team regular Zulqarnain Haider to step up and take the gloves but he's been superseded by a little known 20 year old called Sarfraz Ahmed. So who is Sarfraz Ahmed?



Sarfraz was the captain of the World Cup winning u19 side that turned Anwar Ali, Jamshed Ahmed and Akhtar Ayub into household names here at PakPassion. Sarfraz was an excellent captain during that tournament with great bowling changes and a real energy behind the stumps.

Although he averaged 40 for the u19s and averages 37 at First Class level, Srafraz's real talent is as a keeper and not as a batsman.

He not only has safe hands and takes athletic catches, he's also very vocal behind the stumps. So vocal in fact that he could quite quickly become very annoying but as long as he annoys the opposition more than he annoys us it'll be worth it.

He was the first choice keeper in the recent First Class and ODI series in Pakistan between Pak A and Australia A, he scored 48 and 61 in the 4 day games but didnt get to bat in the ODIs. Those scores were against a bowling attack consisting of Gillespie, MacGill, Hopes and White so he should be able to hold his own against international opposition.

Sarfraz isn't a 'beast' or a big hitter, in fact i dont think he has hit a six in any of the scorecards I've seen. He's more of a four hitter and a great runner between the wickets, his strike rate is mid-70s. But his most important contribution wont be with the bat, it will be with his keeping skills.

From what I remember of the u19 WC and the T20 tournament he was exceptional behind the stumps and we can only hope he continues that for Pakistan!!

Below are his stats...

Ms	Runs/Avg	HS	S/R	100s	50s	Ct	St	Format

16	811 @ 36.86	77*	58.3	 0	 8	44	 9	First Class
13	 68 @ 11.33	17*	76.4	 0	 0	 8	 5	List A
 6	only one inns	--	----	 -	 -	 2	 2	Twenty20 	
15	318 @ 39.75	54	72.6	 0	 3	23	 6	Pakistan u19s

...the batting looks promising but the keeping is already top notch!

[161]

just wondering what position does he bat - has he ever opened ?

[saaretjie]

I know that at domestic level he comes in at around 6/7

[Oxy]

I wont jump on the 'Safraz Ahmad' bandwagon as I only know about him from what I have seen in the high profile games - but I just have question.

Can he make the MASSIVE step up from the level he is playing to FULL INTERNATIONAL HONOURS.

I hope so - I think we deserve to see a keeper that can do the basics....

[Mercenary]

This is a brave move by the selectors to discard Zulqarnain who is currently playing for WAPDA in the Qaid trophy and has taken 15 catches in the last 5 inns and who has been opening (unsuccessfully) for his team. Having said that I dont think Zulqarnain lived up to his hype as a batsman or a keeper after the 2004 WC and his dmoestic record is good but not that great.

It also seems that Adnan Akmal who is playing for Sui in the Qaid trophy and who has taken 13 catches in his last 6 inns, has been overlooked too. Woolmer said Adnan was a far better keeper than Kamran and he's been on the fringes for a long time.

Does anyone remember the name of that other keeper that was being talked about by Woolmer who needed to get his fitness up?

[Mercenary]

Originally Posted by kashif77 just wondering what position does he bat - has he ever opened ?

He bats in the keepers position at 6 or 7 and I wouldnt expect too much of him with the bat either. At least until he settles down in the role (if he does)

[Crucifier]

He's a child for crying out loud. Coming into an international match, with no experience facing top level bowling is not easy. Look at Fawad's 1st innings vs SL. He gave the bowler catching practice the very first ball he faced.

He might be a better keeper, but pressure can change all that. An Indian series is not the time or place to be experimenting. I am pissed that Akmal dropped Ganguly, and played a ridiculous shot to get out. But he will come good, eventually.

Give him another 10 matches, if this continues, we have serious problems.

[161]

Originally Posted by Crucifier He's a child for crying out loud. Coming into an international match, with no experience facing top level bowling is not easy. Look at Fawad's 1st innings vs SL. He gave the bowler catching practice the very first ball he faced. He might be a better keeper, but pressure can change all that. An Indian series is not the time or place to be experimenting. I am pissed that Akmal dropped Ganguly, and played a ridiculous shot to get out. But he will come good, eventually. Give him another 10 matches, if this continues, we have serious problems.

i remember seeing him in the U19 WC ... although only a teenager he looked remarkably confident and mature.

i think he's got the type of personality that rises up to meet the challenge.

[161]

Originally Posted by Oxy I wont jump on the 'Safraz Ahmad' bandwagon as I only know about him from what I have seen in the high profile games - but I just have question. Can he make the MASSIVE step up from the level he is playing to FULL INTERNATIONAL HONOURS. I hope so - I think we deserve to see a keeper that can do the basics....

the task is simple for him at the moment .. just hold on to the regulation catches and the team will be grateful.

[Mercenary]

Originally Posted by Crucifier He's a child for crying out loud. Coming into an international match, with no experience facing top level bowling is not easy. Look at Fawad's 1st innings vs SL. He gave the bowler catching practice the very first ball he faced.

Actually he kept brilliantly in a Pakistan vs India World Cup final (u19, T20 or ODi its all pure pressure) where we were defending a paltry score of 109.

He was keeping to the banana swing of Anwar Ali whom was swinging it more than I've seen International bowlers swing it, Jamshed Ahmed who was swinging the ball both ways and Akhtar Ayub who was steaming in at upto 87/88mph.

He's also kept to Sami, Irshad and Mansoor Amjad in Pakistan A matches vs an Australia A team with several senior Aussie players and he did well in that series too.

So I dont think he'll be too nervous behind the stumps, he may struggle with the bat and that's where we'll miss Kamran!!

Plus he's 20 which isn't a kid!

[infamous9383]

Originally Posted by Mercenary This is a brave move by the selectors to discard Zulqarnain who is currently playing for WAPDA in the Qaid trophy and has taken 15 catches in the last 5 inns and who has been opening (unsuccessfully) for his team. Having said that I dont think Zulqarnain lived up to his hype as a batsman or a keeper after the 2004 WC and his dmoestic record is good but not that great. It also seems that Adnan Akmal who is playing for Sui in the Qaid trophy and who has taken 13 catches in his last 6 inns, has been overlooked too. Woolmer said Adnan was a far better keeper than Kamran and he's been on the fringes for a long time. Does anyone remember the name of that other keeper that was being talked about by Woolmer who needed to get his fitness up?

amin ur rehman?

[salman24]

I hope he proves to be a good batsmen as Akmal was a good enough batsmen and also attacking

[GQ]

I guess our prayers are answered finally! At this time, I'll take anyone but Akmal. Nothing personal against Akmal, but, I think, he's suffering from a very bad patch in his career and it's best for him and the team that he get's a break from the scene. If he's determined, he'll make his way back. As far as Sarfraz is concerned, I think he'll make use of this opportunity. Unfortunately, in Pakistan cricket players are not groomed as they should be so they have to grab any opportunity that comes their way. From what I've seen of him, he looks like a decent prospect. I wish him all the best!

[Desi]

i feel for kamran...he needed a break awhile ago. pcb persisted with him and the stress only piled up. now **** has hit the fan, and he may not get another chance. i wish the best for him..

[Genghis]

All the best to Sarfraz ... I suspect that if he does well it could mean the end of poor Kamran.

[CricketBuff]

Good luck to Sarfaraz. I think he will rise to the occasion and grab this golden opportunity with both hands !!!

[Hash]

Best of luck to Sarfraz. He doesn't have to do too much.....just take the regulation catches behind the stumps which kamran kept dropping and he will be fine.

I don't really mind what he does with the bat. If he can chip in with a 20 odd here and there that is acceptable. And is only 20 so his batting will improve over the years.

[Mercenary]

Originally Posted by CricketBuff Good luck to Sarfaraz. I think he will rise to the occasion and grab this golden opportunity with both hands !!!

He might be better off letting the opportunity settle into his hands rather than grabbing at it like Kamran always does, otherwise he'll drop it like Kamran drops dollies.

[Sparhawk]

Happy Days Akmal is out.

[Joseph K.]

Oh yes, ring out the old, ring in the new. It's about time someone from that under 19 team rewarded. What became of Anwar Ali?

[Wazeeri]

Anwar Ali is not as good as the video of the U19 Final suggest. He has a fairly ordinary domestic record and from the interview we had with Wasim Bari, He needs to develop his batting to get into the team because he cannot get in on his bowling alone.

[Wazeeri]

As for Sarfraz I think he is a brilliant keeper. I haven't seen Zulqarnain keep but Sarfraz is definitely better than Adnan Akmal.

Ideally Pakistan would want a keeper who can open as that solves two of our problems but beggars can't be chosers.

[Mercenary]

Originally Posted by Joseph K. Oh yes, ring out the old, ring in the new. It's about time someone from that under 19 team rewarded. What became of Anwar Ali?

I always thought Jamshed Ahmed was a far better bowler than Anwar Ali, he had decent pace and the ability to swing the new ball both ways.

[Legendary_Sage]

Originally Posted by Wazeeri Anwar Ali is not as good as the video of the U19 Final suggest. He has a fairly ordinary domestic record and from the interview we had with Wasim Bari, He needs to develop his batting to get into the team because he cannot get in on his bowling alone.

well i watched Aqib on Geo Super and they were discussing the new fast bowlers with him and he said that after Tanvir , Anwar is the other guy to emerge as pakistan top bowler in coming year or so.

[mmkextreme_1]

Heard on commentary I didn't know this, watching the RBS 20-20 highlights on GEO, that Sarfraz Ahmed Mashallah is a Hafize-Quran! Mashallah!