Sarfaraz Ahmed finds support from Indian fans after wearing Salwar Kameez for opening ceremony

Pakistan launched their World Cup campaign at Trent Bridge on Friday as they met a talented Windies side. The Men in Green have remained without a win in their last 11 matches and lost 10 of them. The side made some last-minute changes to its pace-bowling attack after a hammering from England which has raised eyebrows. And now, captain Sarfaraz Ahmed courted another controversy by choosing to wear a Salwar Kameez while going for a meeting with the British queen along with the other nine captains in the fray.

Sarfaraz went in Pakistan’s traditional dress while the other skippers were in the routine formals as they met Queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham Palace on the eve of the World Cup. While many said it was a break of protocol, Sarfaraz himself was unapologetic and found support from several fans, including from India.

Journalist Tarek Fatah taunts Sarfaraz; Indian fans react

Noted Pakistani-born Canadian journalist Tarek Fatah slammed Sarfaraz over his choice of attire at the formal occasion and said in a tweet: “Guess who came dressed in his pyjamas? None other than the #Pakistan captain.” In another tweet, Fatah even taunted the Pakistan wicket-keeper-batsman saying he was surprised that the latter did not turn up in his “Lungi-Banyan-Topi costume”.

While the Pakistani fans were already backing Sarfaraz, he also found backing from supporters from this side of the Wagah who took on the veteran journalist over his tweets.

Here are some reactions that the Indian fans came up with against Tarek Fatah’s criticism

Sarfaraz himself also spoke out on the matter saying it was the Pakistan Cricket Board that had instructed him to do things that would promote the country’s culture and that he was proud to wear his nation’s national dress while his counterparts were wearing suits.

Pakistan picked both Amir and Riaz for their games against the Windies besides Hasan Ali. Pakistan and the West Indies have met 10 times in the World Cup in all with the Caribbeans having a 7-3 lead. The last time Pakistan won against the West Indies was in the quarter-final in Dhaka in 2011.