Inzamam-ul-Haq, the former Pakistan captain and the present chief selector of the Pakistan national cricket team, recently stated that lesser number of long-format domestic cricket is worrying to grow up Pakistan cricket. Now, Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed supports Inzamam-ul-Haq on that subject and imitates his words too.
In the recently concluded tour of New Zealand, Pakistan lost the five-match bilateral ODI series by the 5-0 margin while they won the three-match T20I series by the 1-2 margin.
Talking about Pakistan cricket’s present problems in the longer formats, Sarfraz Ahmed said according to The Express Tribune, “When you play the shortest formats for a long period, then you don’t necessarily have the fitness to play in a 50-over or Test match. You also train according to the format you’re playing more. So Inzi bhai is right.”
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He further explained, “The shorter format gives you less time to train, but when you’re playing in the long format, you develop a more concrete fitness regime. Inzi bhai is right that the more you play the longer format of cricket, the more you improve your fitness.”
Earlier, the former Pakistan skipper and current chief selector of the Pakistan national cricket team, Inzamam-ul-Haq said on Pakistan cricket’s downfalls in the longer format, “You have to face different environments in T20s, ODIs and Test matches and our players should be prepared to perform in all conditions. The PCB is also worried about the scanty number of one-day matches that are held on our domestic circuit. We organise only one National One-day Cup whereas more should be held.”
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The last three playoff matches of the 2018 Pakistan Super League (PSL), including the final of the tournament, will be played on the Pakistan soil. While the final will be held at the National Stadium (Karachi), the eliminator and qualifier 2 will be played on the Gaddafi Stadium (Lahore).
Sarfraz praises PSL to bring back the cricket in Pakistan. Sarfraz is very hopeful for the future of cricket on the Pakistan soil. The wicketkeeper-batsman said, “Two matches are being held in Lahore this year, the final will take place in Karachi, and PSL is one of the biggest reasons that international cricket has returned to Pakistan.”
He added, “We [Quetta Gladiators] recently played against Islamabad United in Rawalpindi and a huge crowd came in to support us even though it was an exhibition match. So, PSL did become a means for the return of international cricket to Pakistan. We are playing three games this year; I hope next year half of the tournament or even the full tournament can be played in Pakistan.”
