Former pacer takes swipe at Babar Azam for crediting Sarfaraz

Former fast bowler Tanvir Ahmed has taken a dig at Babar Azam for crediting Sarfaraz Ahmed on Pakistan’s triumph in the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025.

Congratulatory messages poured in after Pakistan outplayed arch-rivals India in the final by a hefty margin of 191 runs.

Among the senders were former and current cricketers, who praised the team and Sarfaraz Ahmed for delivering an outstanding performance.

Babar Azam, who is currently in Australia for the Big Bash League (BBL) 15, credited team mentor and manager Sarfaraz Ahmed for bringing the best out of the young players.

“Well done, boys! Lifting the trophy after a stellar campaign and dominating the final.

Big credit to Saifi Bhai, whose experience shaped this triumph. Keep the hunger going,” Babar Azam wrote on his X account.

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However, the congratulatory message did not sit well with Tanvir Ahmed, who has long an admirer of Babar Azam.

“No credit goes to [Sarfaraz Ahmed]. All of it goes to Shahid Anwar, Azhar Ali and Rao Iftikhar Anjum, as all of the hard work was done by them,” Tanvir replied to Babar’s post on X.

“I am disappointed that you gave all the credit to Sarfaraz,” he lamented.

For the unversed, Sarfaraz Ahmed was named the team mentor and manager ahead of the U19 Asia Cup 2025.

The glory added another trophy to Sarfaraz’s cabinet as the wicket-keeper batter has led Pakistan to three major titles against India.

He captained the national side to the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup glory in 2006, defeating arch-rivals India in the final, and later guided Pakistan to a historic ICC Men’s Champions Trophy triumph in 2017, where they thrashed India by 180 runs in the summit clash.

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