Pakistani middle-order batsman Saud Shakeel has clarified the surrounding rumors about his alleged rift with wicket-keeper batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed after a video of them went viral on social media where both of them can be seen and heard arguing with each other during a net session in Australia last month.
Pakistan suffered a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of World champions Australia in Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney in a series that marked a new beginning for their Test team under the captaincy of Shan Masood. It was also their first major assignment under the directory of former captain Mohammad Hafeez who was appointed as team director, days after the Green Army’s CWC 2023 campaign came to an end.
Both Saud Shakeel and Sarfaraz Ahmed were a part of the squad. While the former played all the 3 Tests down under, the latter was dropped from the playing XI entirely after the 1st Test in Perth in which Pakistan suffered a heavy 360-run defeat.
The viral video is from a net session, possibly held in Perth before the 1st Test. Saud and Sarfaraz were heard throwing jabs at each other after a comment from Shakeel that instigated the former captain in a way that he had no choice or option but to respond.
“For how long will I continue to be of use to you?” Saud Shakeel asked.
“You won’t be of any use to me. To begin with, I never instructed you to do anything. I never requested you to make a swap. I swapped with the person I intended to,” Sarfaraz responded.
“You still made the swap, so I was beneficial to you,” Shakeel ended the argument.
The internal rift resulted in a very bad way for Pakistan who were stepped over by New Zealand 4-1 in a T20I series that was followed by the 3 Tests in Australia. It was very recently that it was reported that Sarfaraz Ahmed was leaving his homeland to take UK citizenship in order to explore and pursue his cricketing desires. Reports suggested that he came to this decision after getting limited chances for Pakistan national side but kept himself open to feature in future PSL editions. However, Sarfaraz later rubbished the reports.
“The Video Was Edited”, Saud Shakeel Blames Social Media For Creating Rift Angle With Sarfaraz Ahmed
In a recent interview given to Cricket Pakistan outlet, Saud Shakeel stated that he never had any argument with Sarfaraz Ahmed and in fact they were just joking around at that time. Shakeel went on to claim that the viral video had been edited by someone deliberately in order to gain attention as his relation with Sarfaraz is that of an elder brother.
“The video was edited in such a way that it appears we are having a fight, although at that time we were joking, he is like my elder brother, and we cannot have a fight like it seems in the edited video. Our relationship is like that of brothers, and the way the video is edited to create a misleading impression, nothing like that actually happened,” Saud Shakeel said.