Shahid Afridi downplays Sarfaraz Ahmed's return to white-ball cricket 

Sarfaraz was brilliant in the recent Test series against New Zealand.

Veteran wicket-keeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed announced his return to the international arena in style amid the recently-concluded 2-match Test series against New Zealand at home; courtesy of the strong performances with the bat throughout the series.

Despite Sarfaraz's heroic return, he wasn't named in Pakistan's squad for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand at home. 

Pakistan's interim chief selector Shahid Afridi has made it clear that Mohammad Rizwan will remain the team's number one choice wicket-keeper batter for white-ball formats.

Making his return for the first time since 2019, he scored 335 runs in four innings at an average of 83.75, with the highest score of 118 runs that saved the second Test for the home side.

The 35-year-old cricketer was awarded player of the series for his outstanding performance in the Test series, as he struck three fifties and a match-saving century. His monumental efforts in the second Test could not guide Pakistan to what would have been a memorable victory but were enough to please cricket fans around the globe.

It is worth mentioning that the Champions Trophy-winning skipper was named in the playing XI in place of Mohammad Rizwan. Pakistan's vice-captain of the Test team, Rizwan was dropped due to his poor run of form with the bat.

Speaking to the reporters after the conclusion of the Test series, Afridi denied Sarfaraz's possible return to the white-ball team by saying that Rizwan is still Pakistan's first-choice wicket-keeper in the white-ball format of the game.

"I'm very happy that Saifi has made a comeback and given such an amazing performance, but Mohammad Rizwan is available and he is our main wicket-keeper in both T20Is and ODIs,”  Shahid Afridi said in the press conference."

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