Worried over constant failure of the top-order in the ongoing ICC cricket World Cup, Pakistan team management is set to draft in wicketkeeper batsman Sarfraz Ahmed in their crucial Pool B match against South Africa in Auckland tomorrow.
While coach Waqar Younis didn't rule out the possibility of recalling veteran Younis Khan for tomorrow's game, skipper Misbah-ul Haq in his pre-match press conference hinted that Sarfraz could finally be picked in place of out of form opener Nasir Jamshed.
"Yes we are considering playing Sarfraz in place of Nasir," Misbah said.
Nasir, who was rushed to join the squad in New Zealand before the World Cup on the insistence of Misbah and Waqar in place of injured Muhammad Hafeez, has proved to be a complete failure in the mega event in three matches.
Waqar admitted that this has added to the pressure on the top-order and also pointed out that it had also led to baseless speculations in the Pakistani media.
"I am disappointed to hear about stories like we are not playing Sarfraz because he misbehaved with me. All this is untrue and they are no problems in the team at all," Waqar told a Pakistani channel.
"Sarfraz remains a key player for us and an asset for us for the future. There is lot of cricket after the World Cup and we don't want to dent his confidence by pushing him into a role he is not accustomed too," the coach said.
