New Delhi: Former Pakistan cricket team captain Sarfaraz Ahmed was dropped from the 20-member squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, which will begin in Rawalpindi later this month. Soon after the announcement Wednesday, Pakistani social media became awash with fun takes and jabs at the cricketer, even as some questioned the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Ahmed, who was the captain from 2016 onwards, has been replaced by Mohammad Rizwan as the first-choice wicketkeeper and newcomer Mohammad Haris, who has been named as the backup.
? Pakistan squad for New Zealand ODIs ?
Congratulations to Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Shahnawaz Dahani and Zahid Mahmood on their maiden call-ups ?#PAKvNZ #HarHaalMainCricket pic.twitter.com/jvqMpCBKMt
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 1, 2021
Sarfaraz Ahmed’s removal from the team created much chatter on social media. Some poked jabs that he would finally be able to play now that he has been dropped – Ahmed had not played a single match in the last two series despite being a member of the squad. Many also lashed out at the Pakistan Cricket Board, saying they were biased.
Sarfaraz Ahmed has been dropped.
He can play some Cricket now#PAKvNZ
— ʙᴀsʜᴇᴇʀ ᴍᴀʜɪ ʙᴀʟᴏᴄʜ? (@Y_Not_Meri_Jaan) September 1, 2021
Sarfaraz Ahmed dropped without chances shame on you PCB beshumar lanat ?️?️?️
— Muhammad Bilal (@Muhamma37840759) September 2, 2021
People even questioned the PCB for its decision to select Ahmed only to have him warm the benches. Why do you spend so much money on his travel if you are sure you are not going to let him play a match, goes the sentiment.
Injustice with Sarfaraz Ahmed, why he is dropped from the ODI team even without playing a single match.
If he is not on the standards of international level then why selector selects him and spent a lot of money on his traveling for the last 3 to 4 series? @SarfarazA_54— ثیاب حمزہ (@sayyab_sheikh) September 1, 2021
Sarfaraz Ahmed dropped without playing a match in last 2 series. Strange.
— Bilal Sheikh (@Billoo14) September 1, 2021
And for some, ‘king Sarfaraz was robbed again’.
king sarfaraz dropped
PCB politics
sarfaraz ahmed robbed again— Heisenberg (@Bhanu_317) September 2, 2021
One user even said that the PCB had dropped the former skipper so that he could put his focus elsewhere – on Twitter beefs.
PCB has dropped Sarfaraz Ahmed to focus on his Twitter beefs.
— Arsalan Khattak (@lapulgaprop) September 1, 2021
Also read: Pakistanis ready with popcorn and past remarks if Imran Khan picks Ramiz Raja as PCB chief
Ahmed’s Twitter beefs
Quite the Twitter user, Sarfaraz Ahmed is constantly putting videos or giving his two cents on issues or getting into fun repartee with his team mates.
However, one such instance turned a bit unsavoury and tense.
In one his cooking videos posted by his wife, cricketers Inzamam-ul-Haq and Shadab Khan started pulling his leg.
Khan replied in one of the comments that next time, ‘Captan’ (Ahmed) would make tea. Captan also seemed eveready and said he was ‘hazir’ (present) to make ‘ekdum kadak chai’.
Hazir janab aik dum karak chaie mile Ge apko ?
— Sarfaraz Ahmed (@SarfarazA_54) August 30, 2021
This fun exchange turned intense when Ahmed could not handle sports anchor Aalia Rasheed poking fun at him.
O bhai, hath hola rakho, paani pilanay per aasman toot para thaa, abb chai bhee banwao gai!?
— Aalia Rasheed (@aaliaaaliya) August 30, 2021
He angrily replied to her saying she didn’t know what the ongoing conversation was about and asked her not to interfere and keep her thoughts and opinions limited to cricket only.
Baat kiya ho rahe hai aur ap kiya baat kar rahe hai Pehle baat apko is conversation me aana nahe chahiye tha yaha circket nahe chal rahe hai .behtar hai apne Rai circket pe rakhe to zada behtar hoga personal na ho zada ap
— Sarfaraz Ahmed (@SarfarazA_54) August 30, 2021
Captain clearly lacked a sense of humour when Rasheed had to explain, ‘I was just kidding Saifi!’
I was just kidding Saifi!
— Aalia Rasheed (@aaliaaaliya) August 30, 2021
Pakistanis seem just too aware of what goes on when Sarfaraz Ahmed isn’t on the field, and therefore couldn’t leave his exclusion from the team as just a player being dropped for his performance. Let’s wait for the responses when he makes a comeback.