INZAMAM-UL-HAQ: Sarfraz’s talent and his gamesmanship sends strong message

Ireland's gentle military medium-fast bowlers were no threat to Pakistan on an ideal batting wicket. Their bowlers didn't get enough purchase from the wicket.

Great batsmen are those who finish off the game and do not lose concentration after scoring 50s, 60s or 70s. Sarfraz has all these ingredients. He adjusts his strokes so quickly that it makes life difficult for even a good bowler. Once he completed his maiden ODI hundred, he played three consecutive dot balls as Pakistan needed just one run for the victory.

It might have looked a bit odd to some, but it was a sportsmanship of Sarfraz as he wanted his senior partner Umar to score the winning run as he had helped him reach three figures for the first time in his career. This is how you need to compliment your team-mates, which, in turn, enhances team spirit and unity in the side. Good gesture Sarfraz, it was master-stroke!

There's a talk of a 10-team ICC World Cup in 2019 and I am all in favor of it.

For Associate teams like Ireland, what the ICC needs to do is to arrange regular One-Day International series against Test nations, say minimum of 10-12 ODIs in a year, instead of just organising international matches among the associate countries. It could help lower-ranked sides, especially Ireland, to be in the top eight of the ICC Rankings and qualify directly for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

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