In the recently concluded series New Zealand made their long awaited return to Pakistani shores after 2003 One day series, nearly 19 years ago.They had left prematurely before a ball was bowled last September on the eve of the Rawalpindi leg of one day internationals in a security controversy that sparked some ripples. Karachi, ” the city of lights ” was the scene of the test series considering daylight is plenty even in January.
The painful 3-0 home loss to England meant that some changes were to be anticipated. An adhoc selection committee under the newly nominated PCB chief Najam Sethi meant some players were to be included in the host’s squad. The only player that wasn’t used in the entire english series was also given the gloves for this series following Mohammad Rizwan’s constant failures.The reserve wicket keeper was none other then ex Pakistan skipper. Sarfaraz Ahmad.
In the growing nature of world cricket , having multiple wicket keepers is a norm. Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler play in 11 for England. Tom Latham and Tom Blundell play for kiwis and even in other formats , Ishant Kishan and Rishabh Pant have played for India. In Pakistan, the concept was used when Moin Khan played in 90’s a test with Rashid Latif keeping wickets. But lately, Pakistan seemed to be playing archaic era cricket where the concept of having a reserve keeper in the squad is frowned upon, let along having both in the playing eleven.
Sarfaraz has had a chequered few years since oustre as skipper in 2019 following the home defeat to Sri Lanka in the T20’s. Usually in Pakistan , the skippering ouster leads to all format exclusion and subsequent end to their international careers.The COVID 19 pandemic regimen of increasing squad numbers however led to a need for second wicket keeper at all costs.That meant for the test squad, Sarfaraz was still the most experienced choice, Under Babar Azam, he toured everywhere in the last three and half years including home campaigns but never got a chance to play in the 11.
Sarfaraz is nicknamed as “Saifi ” or “Taptaan “as a parody of “Kaptaan” , Urdu for captain. He skippered the last ICC trophy pak won in 2017 as well as the last ODI world cup in 2019.He comes from humble surroundings of urban karachi, a place called buffer zone. His father used to own a store but died when Sarfraz was young. He was the victorius skipper of the 2006 under 19 world cup and at the age of 20 , found himself playing in one of the biggest series of the time , this time against India again in Jaipur 2007. It was a dead rubber and he didn’t get to bat and didnt get a chance until the notoroius 2010 series in Australia where he earned a test cap in another dead rubber, the Hobart test.
He really burst onto the regular scene in 2014 when he scored a few good scores in January test series against Sri Lanka, the last innings in a series drawing fourth innings of 48 off 46.The following year , he was included finally after excessive pressure on Misbah and Waqar Younis in the world cup and that famous March 7 innings versus South africa in Eden Park.The rest as they say is history.
In Karachi , his hometown , he had the honour of finally playing on home soil. This was his incidentally his 50th test.He didnt let down even though very few came to attend both the tests.He scored an inspiring 86 in the first innings with the skipper who knocked 161. He then followed it up with 53 in a much needed innings that played a part to guiding Pakistan to safety. The next test was no different. Pakistan and New Zealand exchanged 400 plus scores with another target set for the final day, 319.
Sarfaraz had danger lurking at 80-5 on the final morning.he then involved hismefl in two key partnerships . Firstly its was with Saud Shakeel, simply the breakout player of the whole home season. Next up, Agha Salman added a much more pacier stand that almost took the hosts to within 46 of the total at six down. Sarfaraz scored his fifth century in the context of the chase and sealed his return. He was 9th down in the ensuing chase. It seemed once Pakistan lost Salman , they had their cause abandoned and finished 15 runs adrift in the end in a high scoring draw.
Sarfaraz couldn’t have asked for a better series.His overall tally of 335 runs at at an average of 83.75 set a record for a Pakistani wicketkeeper scoring in less than 3 test series.This ensured Pakistan drew the series with New Zealand which in essence due to poor planning and defensive mindsets they should have won. Sarfaraz has a lot of work to be done behind the wickets though fumbling chances for catches and stumpings but the cause to play even if it means as a specialist batsman should now be clear to all in PCB.
