*ISLAMABAD – Pakistan cricket captain Sarfraz Ahmed, has dismissed reportsof rift between him and senior batsman Shoaib Malik.*
“There is no truth to the claim that people who play under Shoaib [Malik]don’t want to play under me. All the boys are very good and support eachother. I don’t think there’s anything about that,” said Sarfraz, quoted*ESPNcricinfo*.
Shoaib Malik is serving as Pakistan’s stand-in captain, after skipperSarfraz was handed a four match suspension by the ICC, as the cricketer wasfound in violation of the Anti-Racism code after he was caught heard makinga racist remark to South Africa’s Phehlukwayo during the second ODI inDurban.
Meanwhile, Sarfraz is expecting to make his return after serving the ban,revealing that he opted out from one match to get rest prior the PakistanSuper League.
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“I’m hopeful and expectant of a comeback. I came back because I had afour-match ban, and there was just one more match after that. So travellingwith the team all that while and not playing, what with me having been awayfrom home for five months, was very hectic. If I had come back with theteam and got just three days here before going for the PSL, that would havebeen very hectic. So getting the rest instead was much better.”
Earlier, opening batsman Imam ul Haq also dismissed reports of change ofcaptaincy in Pakistani cricket, ahead of the upcoming World Cup. “Sarfrazis our captain for the past two years, there are no changes, as he is onlyout for four or five games due to the ICCs suspension. Meanwhile, ShoaibMalik is serving as the stand-by captain due to Sarfraz’s suspension,” saidImam.
