Pakistan cricket going through tough times: Pak captain
Pakistan cricket team's new ODI and T20I captain Sarfraz Ahmed claims that Pakistan cricket is going through tough times, following the involvement of several Pakistani players in PSL spot-fixing scandal. "[W]e need to do well in the coming series [against West Indies] to boost our people," Sarfraz said. Notably, Pakistan are yet to qualify for a World Cup 2019 spot.
Pakistan's new ODI and T20 captain Sarfaraz Ahmad avoided speaking on the PSL spot-fixing scandal, which has rocked the cricket community, but admitted that the country's cricket was going through tough times.Terming the coming series in the West Indies as a big challenge for Pakistan cricket, the wicketkeeper-batsman told the media on the eve of the team's departure for the Caribbean that the first target was to win the three match ODI series and qualify directly for the next World Cup."I don't want to comment on the PSL issue but yes we are going through tough times and we need to do well in the coming series to boost our people," he said.He conceded that like in 2010 Pakistan cricket team would again have to do a lot to overcome the recent scandal, which has led to the suspension of five players.During the tour of England in 2010, three players - then captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir - were found involved in spot-fixing and banned for five-years.Sarfaraz had earlier said that Pakistan would miss the services of opener Sharjeel Khan in the West Indies as he was suspended in connection with the spot-fixing scandal.Head coach Mickey Arthur said while the PSL scandal and the involvement of his players was disappointing, one had to move on.