Pakistani Crickete Players: Sarfaraz ahmed

Sarfaraz ahmed Biography

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arfraz Ahmed was born in May 22, 1987. He is a fine Pakistani cricketer who lead Pakistan to victory at the Under 19 World Cup in 2006. He is a wicket-keeper and a right-handed batsman. He had played only 5 games for the Pakistan Under 19 cricket team before being chosen as captain for the Under 19 Cricket World Cup. He also plays first class cricket for Karachi. Sarfraz Ahmed was called up by Pakistan on replacement of Kamran Akmal in the one-day series between India and Pakistan in November 2007.

He made his ODI debut in the final match of the series, on 18 November 2007. He was good behind the stupms with his keeping skills but didn't get an opportunity to bat as Pakistan had won the match before he was required to bat. In 2008, Sarfraz was preferred ahead of Kamran Akmal for the Asia Cup. Throughout the Asia Cup he overwhelmed with his keeping skills but didn't get a chance to show his batting skills. He made his test match debut in Hobart on 14 January 2010 against Australia. He only played one test and fifteen ODI’s for Pakistan.Born on May 22, 1987, Sarfraz Ahmed is a wicket-keeper batsman for Pakistan. He represents Karachi in the domestic arena for his country. Sarfraz became famous after his Under 19 performances; he led his troops exceedingly well in a high pressure 2006 Under-19 World Cup final against India to defeat the arch-rivals by 38 runs in a low-scoring game. This after his batsmen were bundled out for a paltry-109 runs batting first. His words were so energetic that, in response, his bowlers reduced India to 9/6, eventually bowling them out for 71 runs to clinch the thriller. This feat not just gave Pakistan the World Cup, but also gave them another tag of the only country to defend the title in the history of the tournament.

When keeper Kamran Akmal sustained an injury, his leadership skills and the knowledge about the game forced the selectors to draw him into the Pakistan ODI squad which toured India in 2007. Eventually he made his debut on November 18 at Jaipur the same year.

In 2008, he was preferred ahead of out-of-form Kamran Akmal for the Asia Cup and he did a fine job with his gloves behind the wicket.

The 2012 Asia Cup was even better for Sarfraz. When his side was in trouble in the final against Bangladesh, Sarfraz stood firm alongside the lower-order and top-scored the innings with an unbeaten 46 to give Pakistan a respectable total. It proved very crucial that after a few hours his side lifted the cup beating the hosts by just 2 runs.

He made his Test debut against Australia on January 14, 2010 at Hobart. He has just played three other games since then and is a regular in the side recently, again at the expense of Kamran Akmal. He was recalled for national duty for the South African tour, during which he played three Test matches. He could manage significant scores only in the last Test match at Centurion. He kept his place in the side for the home Test series against Sri Lanka and did fairly well, including a quick-fire knock in the 2nd innings 3rd Test, which saw Pakistan pull off a dramatic win at Sharjah.

The ODI format has not been that kind to the right-hander as he failed to impress against Zimbabwe in their own backyard. The selectors ignored him for the World T20 as well. Whenever he is not on national duty, Sarfraz plays in the domestic circuit to keep himself in good shape.

Sarfraz has grown as a wicket-keeper batsman in 2014, he has left behind Kamran Akmal and Adnan Akmal and is the preferred keeper for Pakistan across all three formats. The change fortune for Sarfraz started on the Sri Lanka tour, where he scored his maiden Test ton and a couple of fifties. He carried that form to the ODI series involving Australia and the subsequent Test series. Sarfraz had successful series against Australia and New Zealand. Due to such form, the selectors have persisted with him in the short forms of the game as well. He was also named in the 15-man World Cup squad.