Have no issues with being dropped from playing XI, says Pakistan's Sarfaraz Ahmed

KARACHI: Pakistan wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed sought to downplay the controversy surrounding his exclusion from the playing XI in the recently-concluded T20 series in Sri Lanka.

"I am just happy that the team won the T20 series and improved its international rankings," Sarfaraz told reporters on arrival.

"I have no issues if I am rested because of team requirements. I am not a part of the tour selection committee. My job is to give my best performances whenever I play and I always try to do that," Sarfaraz said.

The wicketkeeper's exclusion from the T20 series caused a big uproar in Pakistan cricket circles forcing the Chairman of the cricket board and chief selector to state they would talk to the T20 captain, Shahid Afridi and head coach Waqar Younis to find out the reasons for not playing Sarfaraz in the series.

Even the former Chairman of the board and now an influential head of the PCB's executive committee, Najam Sethi also said on his television show that the public had raised the issue of why Sarfaraz was dropped for the T20 series.

"Questions of dropping Sarfaraz comes from the general public and we also want to know the reasons of his dropping," Sethi said.

Sarfaraz, however, insisted that he was just happy to get a chance to play in the Tests and ODI series in Sri Lanka and perform himself.

"I am just happy to see the way we won the T20 series and how we performed throughout the tour it is great news for Pakistan cricket as we are now moving forward," he said.

He also added that Pakistan's dramatic win in the second T20 match at the Premadasa stadium was heartening as it showed the never-say-die spirit of the Pakistani team.