Moin backs decision to rest Sarfraz for Australia series

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain and Quetta Gladiators coach Moin Khan on Saturday gave his thumbs up for the decision of the national selection committee to rest skipper Sarfraz Ahmed for the five-match One-day International series against Australia starting at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from March 22.

However, Moin was quick to add that since Sarfraz was an announced captain for the ICC World Cup 2019, he should be present in the UAE and be part of every major decision of the team.

“I don’t think the national selection committee took the decision of resting Sarfraz without taking his input,” Moin told a pre-match news conference here at National Stadium on Saturday.

“What I know is that Sarfraz has played a lot of cricket during the last five months and he needs rest. I support the decision of resting him. It would have been good had he been playing against Australia. But if not, at least, his presence in the UAE is necessary and his input is important in every major decision of the team,” Moin said.

Sarfraz along with five other key players of Pakistan team, who play in all formats, were rested when chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq unveiled a 16-member squad for the One-day series against Australia.

Australia did not pick their key players Steve Smith and David Warner who could play their last two one-dayers against Pakistan after the expiry of their suspension because of ball-tampering.

Moin also made it clear that Sarfraz will play till the end of the PSL-4 whose last phase began here at the National Stadium with the match between Lahore Qalandars and two-time winners Islamabad United on Saturday.

“You know load distribution is very important. There is a lot of T20 cricket these days. But as Sarfraz already will rest during Pakistan’s home series against Australia so I think his presence in the Quetta Gladiators is absolutely necessary. And I must say that he will continue till the end in the PSL,” said Moin, also a former chief selector.

After it was announced that Sarfraz would rest in Pak-Australia tour, various conspiracy theories emerged in media with majority suspecting that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would have stopped Sarfraz from skipping his Quetta Gladiators pre-match press conference on Saturday. And Moin, who rushed to his team’s press conference in place of Sarfraz, clarified that it was purely the decision of the Quetta Gladiators not to send the skipper to talk to media.

“I am not employee of the PCB but am employee of the Quetta Gladiators. I will not take any dictation from anyone. I don’t want to create any controversy before the match. Normally I don’t go to the team’s press conference but today I came to clarify you the situation that it was purely the decision of the Quetta Gladiators to keep Sarfraz away of the press conference,” said the former Test wicket-keeper.

In the absence of Sarfraz, former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik will lead the national side against Australia.

It is pertinent to mention that PCB has already announced Sarfraz as skipper of Pakistan team for the ICC World Cup which will be held in England this summer. “Sarfraz is national team skipper in the World Cup and it’s time to support him,” Moin said.