KARACHI: The chair of the interim selection committee of Pakistan Men’s cricket Shahid Afridi commented on the national team’s performance on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand.
The home side had a deplorable start to their proceedings as they were four down for a mere 110 runs, courtesy of some loose shots from the top-order batters.
However, despite the early slump, Pakistan managed to finish the opening day on a high at the back of an astounding fifth-wicket partnership between Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed.
The duo added a mammoth 196 runs amid the stand and defied the early horror.
Sarfaraz, who was making his return to the Test side after a gap of more than three years, made the most of the opportunity and smashed a valiant knock of 86 runs and was immensely praised by fellow cricketers and cricket fans.
Notably, the interim chief selector of the men’s team Shahid Afridi also took to his Twitter to appreciate wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz and captain Babar and was also pleased with the team’s overall performance.
“Pleased with Pakistan’s performance today, great comeback after the early loss of wickets,” wrote Afridi on Twitter. “Special praise for Babar for another outstanding innings.
“Sarfaraz proved his selection right, excellent performance for him under pressure.”
Pleased with Pakistan's performance today, great comeback after the early loss of wickets. Special praise for Babar for another outstanding innings. Sarfaraz proved his selection right, excellent performance for him under pressure.
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) December 26, 2022
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan will now resume their first innings on 317/5 on the second day of the ongoing first Test. Captain Babar was unbeaten at 161 with newly-joined Salman Ali Agha (3*).
READ: ‘It was like a debut match,’ Sarfaraz Ahmed on his Test return
