There was optimism floating all around Pakistan cricket as skipper Sarfraz Ahmed addressed the media ahead of the three-match T20I series against West Indies on Saturday at Karachi.
With the West Indies series coming on the back of a successful hosting of the PSL finals in Karachi, Sarfraz was in a buoyant mood ahead of the three matches. Sunday’s T20I opener at the National Stadium will be the first international cricket match in Karachi since the Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 2009.
“It is a very joyous occasion that we are playing in front of home fans. The response received to the PSL finals in Karachi, there was a lot of praise for the PCB for the way the matches were organised. People have really praised the PSL finals. The last time I played over here was in 2008. So we are definitely excited for the series as international cricket keeps coming back to Pakistan,” the Pakistan skipper said.
Captain Pakistan team, Sarfaraz Ahmed press conference at National Stadium Karachi#PAKvWI #ApnaKhelApneGhar https://t.co/BgIw1HIFKm
— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) March 31, 2018
Speaking about his bowling attack, Sarfraz expressed the utmost confidence in their ability to defend any total in T20 cricket.
“We have talked about it and even you have seen that for the past one or two years, our bowlers have been really doing well. Now that our bowlers have gained even more experience with the likes of Shadab Khan, we are even more confident in our abilities. Whatever total we put up, we are confident we can defend it,” he explained.
The wicket-keeper batsman said that his side would be targeting a clean-sweep against the Caribbean side but warned that it would not be an easy task.
“Definitely, we will be looking for a clean-sweep. Our target is not just to win the series, but to win each and every match. Obviously the West Indies cannot be taken lightly. They have a lot of good batsmen in their side who have been playing a lot of T20 cricket. In T20 cricket, you cannot say one side is better than the other. Whoever plays well on the day will win. Hence, we will need to be at our best to win this series,” he said.
Pakistan team practice session at National Stadium ahead of T20I series against Windies #PAKvWI #ApnaKhelApneGhar pic.twitter.com/wk92rD5EN9
— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) March 31, 2018
The three matches will all be held at the National Stadium in Karachi on April 1, 2 and 3. The Pakistan skipper took the opportunity to thank West Indies for agreeing to tour Pakistan in light of the security situation.
“We are definitely grateful and thank the West Indies for agreeing to tour Pakistan. Not just the West Indies players, even the overseas players who turned up for the Pakistan leg of the PSL, I would like to thank them,” he said.
“All these players have come to our country and seen how good the security situation is. I hope that the West Indies series can also be completed successfully and once that happens, I am sure more teams will follow their lead in touring Pakistan,” Sarfraz added.
The 30-year-old also named a 12-man squad for the first T20I on Sunday, naming two uncapped players in Asif Ali and Hussain Talat.
PAKISTAN 12-MAN SQUAD FOR FIRST T20I
Ahmed Shehzad, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain, wicket-keeper), Hussain Talat, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir and Hasan Ali.
