Pakistan ODI captain Azhar Ali applauded his second-in-command Sarfraz Ahmed for his ‘exceptional’ performance, after the wicketkeeper-batsman scored 90 runs to help his side to a four-wicket win over England in Cardiff on Sunday.
That victory meant the hosts had to be content with a 4-1 ODI series win rather than a home 5-0 whitewash.
It also denied England, who back in June tied an ODI with Sri Lanka in Nottingham before winning that series, a maiden unbeaten season in white-ball cricket ahead of Wednesday’s lone T20I against Pakistan in Manchester.
The hosts fell short of what they wanted in making 302 for nine in Cardiff, with opener Jason Roy top-scoring with 87 and all-rounder Ben Stokes contributing an ODI-best 75.
But they were on course for a whitewash when Pakistan lost two wickets in one Mark Wood over to be 77 for three.
However, a record fourth-wicket partnership of 163 between Sarfraz and Shoaib Malik (77) turned the match Pakistan’s way.
Man of the match Sarfraz, who also scored Pakistan’s first ODI hundred at Lord’s in the second match, was the leading overall run-scorer in the series with exactly 300 at an average of 60.
“The way Sarfraz batted, this whole tour he’s been exceptional,” said Azhar following a much-needed win. “He’s been positive and scoring good runs at number five, so we’ve got some good performances but we just need to bind it together.”
Nevertheless, Pakistan remain ninth in the ODI rankings, with the 1992 champions in danger of missing out on automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup.
Azhar has often been compared unfavourably to celebrated Test captain Misbahul Haq, who has led Pakistan to the top of the International Cricket Council (ICC) standings in the five-day game.
But the ODI captain responded to suggestions he might resign the captaincy by indicating he intended to carry on as skipper.
“I got a few 80s (against England) so that will really help my confidence,” he said. “Leading by example is very important. I will try and keep that form in the coming series. That will help the team.”
He added: “It’s a very happy camp right now — because it has been a very tough tour for us in ODIs, and getting a victory at the end and finishing on a high is really good. A few guys we have seen on this tour have really stepped up — they are young guys, and if they can play good consistent cricket we are looking at a bright future.”
Meanwhile, England limited overs captain Eoin Morgan said he was ‘excited’ by his team’s progress in 50-over cricket despite a season-ending loss to Pakistan.
England may still be fifth in ICC’s ODI rankings, but they have made significant progress since their embarrassing first-round exit at last year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
And with England staging both the 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2019 World Cup, it is no longer fanciful to think they could win their first major international 50-over trophy within the next few years.
“We’ve been outstanding,” said Morgan. “Every game throughout the series, we’ve come out with a hunger and determination to perform at our best.”
Morgan, though, remained heartened by England’s commitment to an aggressive approach in ODI cricket since their World Cup debacle.
“I think it’s exciting,” he said. “The attitude and hunger to want to be better playing in that manner, I think, sums up the direction ODI cricket is going and the talent we have.”
But with world number one-ranked Australia also completing a 4-1 series victory away to Sri Lanka on Sunday, Morgan denied England — beaten on home soil in the 2013 final by India at Edgbaston — were favourites for next year’s Champions Trophy.
“Australia are playing some really strong cricket… South Africa, India as well,” said the Irishman.
“I know the last Champions Trophy we played (here), the pitches were a bit drier than we thought, and brought in subcontinent teams.
“I don’t think, this far out, you can label anybody as favourites,” he added.
