Everyone will remember this for a long, long time in Pakistan cricket: Sarfraz Ahmed

Very few would have believed that a team could come in at the bottom-most rung of the ladder into the Champions Trophy, only to emerge with the trophy in their hands. They say the game of cricket is a great equaliser. Yesterday night, the final match of the Champions Trophy 2017 was probably the biggest equalisers of all time. Pakistan, having come into the championship as the team almost everybody had written off from the beginning, clinched the prized trophy, defeating India by a huge margin of 180 runs.

Pakistan captain, Sarfaraz Ahmed, subsequently made an eloquent statement, urging teams worldwide to resume touring their nation in future for cricketing events. Having led his relatively inexperienced team from the front, Sarfaraz was the sight of a proud and happy skipper, with words of praise for his teammates as well as the domestic T20 league Pakistan Super League (PSL), that brought out young talents from within the nation.

Sarfraz’s statement

“It was his (Sarfaraz) day and as if he wanted to make a statement in his own style.” The Pakistan media manager announced the wish of the Pakistan captain to address the media himself, in which he appealed to all major global cricketing nations to extend a hand of camaraderie. The last cricketing tour in Pakistan of a major team was by Sri Lanka in 2009. Following the terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan team during the tour, the nation has not hosted any major series ever since.

“It was a great achievement by the boys and full credit to them. Everyone will remember this achievement, not just for today or tomorrow but for a long, long time in Pakistan cricket. Hope all nations now come and play cricket in Pakistan,” said an elated Sarfaraz, donned in the victors’ white blazer in the post-match press conference.

He also elaborated on the woes of having to treat the turfs of Dubai as home venues for all their matches and not being able to extract any home advantage.

“For years now, Pakistan is playing home matches in Dubai. We don’t get the home advantage like other teams,” lamented the skipper.

Sarfaraz also commented on the hardships that their national team has gone through the years, only reflecting their indomitable spirit and the passion which they have for the sport. He dedicated the hard-earned victory to his countrymen for all the support that they’d shown over the years.

Thanks the PSL

The Pakistan captain also expressed his gratitude towards the Pakistan Super League (PSL), their domestic T20 tournament. The PSL, not only has provided a platform for spotting the emerging talents of Pakistan, but has also given the youngsters an opportunity to hone their skills, while brushing shoulders with the greats of the game.

“We have had youngsters benefitting from PSL. Players like Hasan Ali, Fakhar Zaman were playing their first tournament and showed us what they’re capable of,” said Sarfaraz, while also showering praise on the senior teammates like Mohammed Hafeez and Mohammad Amir for having contributed in their teams’ victory.

It’s about time that the world rose above the viral hate videos and social media parodies. It’s about time we all stopped seeing Pakistan as a team winning on fluke and appreciated the immense talent that they showcase. The much talked about grammatical syntax of Sarfaraz barely mattered in the post-match conference as the overjoyed captain addressed every cricketing team and the media with utmost sincerity.  It is high time Pakistan got another chance, they’ve done enough over the years to have earned it.

– Written by Rituparna Das