ENG vs PAK: Hafeez urges to play Sarfaraz Ahmed ahead of Mohammad Rizwan

Sarfaraz Ahmed scored 394 in the recently concluded Quaid-E-Azam Trophy

Pakistan's team management, led by coach Saqlain Mushtaq and skipper Babar Azam, have come under immense pressure for their team selection over the first two Tests against England, where Ben Stokes' XI outclassed them to gain an unassailable 2-nil lead.

Pakistan will play for pride in the third and final Test match in Karachi, which begins on Saturday (December 17) at the National Stadium.

According to Cricket Pakistan, former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has urged Azam to induct former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed into the playing XI to bring stability to the late-middle order.  

With regular keeper Mohammad Rizwan struggling to find form in red-ball cricket, Ahmed's inclusion makes more sense.  Ahmed, in the recently concluded Quaid-E-Azam Trophy 2022-23 scored 394 runs for Sindh.

"Sarfaraz has been with the team for the last three years but only as a traveler and could not play a match, and at several points, he can be given a chance to play," stated Hafeez.

"I still think that if the Pakistan Cricket Board’s think tank and even Babar should think that if Rizwan could not deliver well in this format, then he should give him a break, and Sarfaraz or even any other option they have, should be utilized in a best possible way."

Former players like Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi have echoed similar intentions to that of Hafeez about including the Champions Trophy-winning captain in the Playing XI for the final Test.

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