All-rounder Imad Wasim has said that skipper Sarfraz Ahmed is the best thing to have happened to Pakistan cricket.
Imad was speaking to assembled media in Karachi on Tuesday and praised Sarfraz’s leadership of the side since taking over the captaincy reins.
The 28-year-old was addressing the media after being appointed captain of Pakistan Super League (PSL) outfit Karachi Kings.
“He’s the best thing ever that happened to Pakistan Cricket,” Imad said.
“He doesn’t eye personal pride, he is always there for Pakistan and wants to do the best for the country,” the all-rounder added.
When asked if he himself harboured any ambitions of leading the Pakistan side in the future, Imad said there would be no need of that as long as Sarfraz was around.
“Sarfraz is good enough a captain and there’s no need for me or anyone else to think of captaincy,” he said.
Congratulations Imad Wasim on becoming the New Captain of Karachi Kings for PSL Season 3.
<3 #KarachiKings #KKPresser #PressConference pic.twitter.com/qp53HTj1vd— Karachi Kings (@KarachiKingsARY) November 7, 2017
The all-rounder stated that the other players and he have no issue with the 30-year-old’s strict captaincy and the occasional rebukes.
“He’s always like this, he’s like a brother to us and everyone knows his style of leading the side. Those who don’t know him are making an issue, but we are comfortable with the way he’s leading the team,” he said.
While being full of praise for the team skipper, Imad was quick to also credit the team management and support staff for their role in Pakistan’s incredible turnaround in the limited-overs format.
Imad was full of praise for the Pakistan coaching staff as well.
“Team management deserves all the credit, the management is dealing with us very well. We have all realised the importance of fitness. We have understood how to carry the game. We have now started playing attacking cricket which is must for every format of the game,” he remarked.
“Coach, batting coach, bowling coach, fielding coach… everyone in management has been supporting players and the team environment is very morale-boosting, which is giving us confidence. The team atmosphere has given us the confidence that the Pakistan team is now capable of beating any team in the world,” he went on to add.
Sarfarz Ahmed’s men have been on a role in limited-overs cricket over the past year. The period included an unlikely ICC Champions Trophy triumph over arch-rivals India in England earlier this summer.
Bilateral series wins over the West Indies and Sri Lanka have also added to Pakistan’s rising star in the formats.
The team currently sits on top of the ICC T20I team rankings after their 3-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka. In the ODI format, pacer Hasan Ali has established himself as the No. 1 ranked bowler while Mohammad Hafeez leads the way in the all-rounder’s front.
