Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has come out in support of returning batsmen Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal after their loss to Sri Lanka in the first T20I. Shehzad and Umar have had a mercurial past with Pakistan, for various reasons, and the revival of their careers in Lahore at the expense of Fakhar Zaman and Haris Sohail drew surprise in some corners, reports Cricinfo. On Saturday, in the T20 against Sri Lanka, Shehzad had a couple of close calls before he was bowled for 13 off 10. Umar bagged a golden duck, his ninth, and the most by a Pakistan cricketer.
"If you talk about previous two [domestic] seasons, they were performers and they were again performers in the PSL," Sarfaraz said after Pakistan's 64-run defeat. "We are trying our fullest to give a complete chance to those who are brought back. There is nothing to worry. Both are experienced players and once they settle in, they will perform. So [I give] my full backing for them as a captain.
"Fakhar and Harris both have been part of the team for some time now," Sarfaraz added. "When we brought back Ahmed and Umar, we intended to make them play in their own positions. Had we played Fakhar, then Ahmed would have been made to play at one down. Me and Misbah bhai decided to try Ahmed as an opener. With our eyes on the World Cup.
