(Disclaimer: this is a work of fiction. Learn to take a joke; you’ll live longer.)
CAPE TOWN – Pakistan’s decision to go with the same batting lineup for the second Test match in the ongoing Test series against South Africa was taken to punish the batsmen, skipper Sarfraz Ahmed has revealed.
In an exclusive interview with The Dependent, after Pakistan were bowled out for 177 on Day 1, of the second Test, Sarfraz said it would’ve been wrong to punish someone else for the current lot’s mistakes.
“Considering how some of the batsmen have been playing – especially the senior lot, including me – being forced to play on the Newlands deck on Day 1 is the ideal punishment,” Sarfraz said.
The Pakistani captain, who at toss at the start of the first Test, said he would’ve batted first had Pakistan won the toss, similarly explained that call.
“Even though we were put into bat, the experts were perplexed as to why we would have batted first. Well because the punishment would’ve been the most effective in the first session on Day 1,” he said. “And as we saw, they all got dismissed during the first session on Day 1.”
Sarfraz further said that the decision will help Pakistan cricket in the long run by deciding the fate of many batting careers.
“Why should we ruin anyone else’s career by throwing them against this South African pace attack in South Africa?” the skipper asked. “It should’ve been done to those who deserve it.”
