‘Always trying to play our best cricket’ – Sarfraz Ahmed

Asked to open the innings in the three-match Twenty20 International series against the Windies at home in Karachi, Babar Azam displayed supreme form, starting slowly with a 13-ball 17 but then hitting 97* in 58 balls and 51 in 40, as Pakistan won 3-0.

Speaking after the third game, on Tuesday 3 April, when Pakistan chased down the 154-run target with 19 balls in hand, the Player of the Series said, “Whatever I had planned for this series, I wanted to be Man of the Series, and Allah has completed that wish. Seniors like Shoaib (Malik) bhai help me a lot in dealing with situations during the game.”

Fakhar Zaman, Azam’s opening partner whose 17-ball 40 gave Pakistan the early push towards the target, was awarded the Player of the Match award. “I try my best, and the plan with captain and coach is to do whatever I'm best at – so happy that today my innings came off,” he said.

“I am working hard in the nets so that I can play cricket for long. Now that I've played international cricket at home, I know I haven't played better anywhere before. We youngsters also are a good group together, so we enjoy.”

Sarfraz Ahmed, the Pakistan captain, was understandably delighted with the result as it was the first victory for Pakistan at home against a Full Member nation since he became captain.

He stressed on the need for giving the players an extended run and said the result was there for everyone to see.

“About consistency, when I first took over the captaincy, Mickey Arthur (the head coach) told me that we should become consistent,” said Sarfraz. “We are giving the boys a consistent run in the team and so we are flourishing. Babar, Hasan (Ali), Shadab (Khan), Fakhar – they have all had a long run so we are getting better.

“We knew we had won the series, but we still wanted the win today. We are fully trying to always play our best cricket.”

Pakistan have a series of away tours coming up in the following months, including a tour of Ireland and England, and the captain believes that the team is ready for the challenge.

“Yes, this team is ready for the tour abroad. The way the public is backing these boys, if we get the same support, we can beat even the best of teams. Our team environment is great – Hasan, (Mohammad) Amir, (Ahmed) Shehzad didn't play today, but we were confident in our back-up players who started today,” he said.

This was also the first time that men's international cricket was played in Karachi since the Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan in 2009. International cricket came to a standstill in Pakistan in the aftermath of the attack on a bus carrying Sri Lankan players to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, and while there have been some top-level cricket in Lahore since, this was the first instance of cricket being held at the National Stadium in Karachi.

As a result, fans of the game in Karachi supported the series whole-heartedly.

“Karachi has won the hearts of the whole country today. I thought people wouldn't come today because of the dead rubber, but today they surprised me the most. Credit also goes to the curator for three great tracks and also thank you to the security staff,” Sarfraz said.