'I didn't like the visual' - Shoaib Akhtar slams team management as Sarfaraz Ahmed carries drinks and shoes

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed was seen performing the duties of the 12th man in the ongoing first Test match against England in Manchester. Many clips have surfaced on the internet where the former captain can be seen carrying drinks for his teammates. He also carried shoes in the middle after the wicket of his replacement Mohammad Rizwan fell in the 71st over of Pakistan’s 1st innings with a smile on his face.

Sarfaraz didn’t find a place in Pakistan’s playing XI for the first Test and had to perform as a 12th man. This incident didn’t go unnoticed by the fans and former Pakistan cricketers who slammed the team management for disrespecting and mocking the former captain.

Sarfaraz was handed the responsibility of leading the Pakistan side in 2016. Under his leadership, the team created a milestone by winning the Champions Trophy 2017 by defeating arch-rivals India in the final. However, the Karachi stalwart was sacked as the Pakistan captain after the poor performance of the team in the 2019 World Cup.

Shoaib Akhtar slams the Pakistan team management

Seeing the visuals of Sarfaraz carrying drinks and shoes, former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar thrashed the team management. The speedster said that the board should not insult a senior player like this and should treat him with respect. He further named Sarfaraz as a docile man for succumbing to the domination of the authorities.

“I didn’t like the visual. If you want to make an example out of a boy from Karachi, then it is wrong. You can’t do this to a player who has led Pakistan for four years and has won the Champions Trophy for the country. You have made him carry the shoes. If he has done it himself, then stop him. Wasim Akram never brought shoes for me.”

“This shows that Sarfaraz is such a docile and weak man. He must have led Pakistan in the same way as he carried the shoes. That’s why Mickey Arthur always dominated him. I am not saying carrying the shoes is a problem, but the former captain can’t do that,” The Rawalpindi Express quipped as quoted by India Today.

Clarifying the stance of the management and the team, Pakistan’s head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq said that the people have made a mountain of a molehill as there is no shame in carrying drinks for the team. He added that it was not intentional and no other player was available at that moment.