Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed relieved as youngsters overcome final day jitters to clinch Dublin Test

Waseem Ahmed 16:24 16/05/2018
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  • Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed was a relieved man after his team put day five jitters behind them to successfully chase 160 in Dublin and win Ireland‘s inaugural Test.

    Pakistan were 14-3 chasing 160 and memories of their spectacular collapse last year when they were shot out for 114 chasing 136 against Sri Lanka in the Abu Dhabi Test came rushing back.

    Pakistan inexperienced batting line-up was put under pressure in the final innings of a Test again and fans began to fear for the worst. However, youngsters Imam-ul-Haq (74 not out) and Babar Azam (59) steered the team to safety, much to the relief of Pakistan skipper Ahmed.

    “Definitely we were worried when we were down 14 for three,” Sarfraz said after the match.

    “But it’s really good that these two young players in our team, Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam, the way they played, they showed character, they showed their confidence.

    “I think the way they played gives great confidence to the team and will help them in the next matches as well,” the wicket-keeper said.

    Sarfraz said a shock defeat was on his mind when the team lost three quick wickets while chasing 160.

    “In the last Test match when we were chasing 136 and we were all out for about 120. Yeah we were thinking when we called for the follow-on if we were batting in the fourth innings it would be very difficult,” Sarfraz said.

    Apart from Imam, all-rounder Faheem Ashraf was the other debutant of the match for Pakistan. He did well too, scoring what turned out to be a match-saving fifty in the first innings.

    “We are very confident. We are a very young side, we had two debutant players, but we were very confident whatever the target will come, we will chase it down,” Sarfraz said.

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