Former Pakistani great Babar Azam criticises the captain, saying he "doesn't have cricketing knowledge"
Sarfaraz Ahmed, a 35-year-old cricketer, became a national hero for Pakistan after smashing a tonne of runs against New Zealand on Friday during the second Test.
Sarfaraz Ahmed, a 35-year-old cricketer, became a national hero for Pakistan after smashing a tonne of runs against New Zealand on Friday during the second Test. After the game in Karachi was unexpectedly paused due to poor lighting, Sarfaraz's strike helped the hosts settle the match in a tie. As a result, the two-game series ended scoreless, and the teams split the trophy. Babar Azam's nightmare continued as the series turned out to be a remarkable performance for Sarfaraz Ahmed, who was also named Player of the Series.
Babar, who scored a record-breaking 161 runs in the first test's opening innings, was unable to replicate his feats and finished the series with low totals of 14, 24, and 27. Danish Kaneria, a former Pakistani spinner, criticised Babar and said the captain lacked "cricketing knowledge."
"Babar Azam struggled throughout the series as a captain and batsman. With performances like this, Sarfaraz must be given the captaincy. Vice captain should be Saud Shakeel. In my perspective, Babar Azam lacks cricket knowledge. Danish Kaneria on the situation: "He had a good chance to score runs, but he got out on the leg side when playing on the back foot, which he should have swept."
In regards to the game, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed, Pakistan's final partnership, survived 21 balls in waning light on Friday, and Sarfaraz Ahmed scored a valiant century to deny New Zealand victory, bringing the second Test to a thrilling draw in Karachi.
With 39 balls left in the game, Sarfaraz was out for a career-high 118, and New Zealand was in position to win the series. But as night fell, Naseem hit 15 and Ahmed seven, helping Pakistan reach 304-9 in pursuit of a 319-run total before umpires Alex Wharf and Aleem Dar ruled that there were only three overs left and it was impossible to go on.
The first test, which was also played in Karachi, ended in a draw, and the two games were tied, denying New Zealand its first series victory in Pakistan in 53 years.