(Source X)
Former Pakistan cricketer Salman Butt has shared his preference for the wicketkeeper-batter position for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh. He has chosen Mohammad Rizwan over Sarfaraz Ahmed, citing Rizwan’s superior skills both as a batsman and a keeper.
Pakistan is gearing up to face Bangladesh in a two-match Test series starting next week. The first Test will take place in Rawalpindi on August 21, followed by the second Test in Karachi on August 30. These matches will also be part of the ICC World Test Championship.
As Pakistan prepares for the first Test, the team faces a challenging decision: selecting between Mohammad Rizwan and Sarfaraz Ahmed for the wicketkeeper-batter role. Both players have performed well in Test cricket, but recent preference has leaned towards Rizwan, who is also a regular in the limited-overs format. This has led to considerable debate over who will secure the spot in the playing XI.
Salman Butt has chosen between Mohammad Rizwan and Sarfaraz Ahmed.
When a fan asked Salman Butt to choose between Mohammad Rizwan and Sarfaraz Ahmed, the former Pakistan captain confidently picked Rizwan. He praised Rizwan’s superior skills in both wicketkeeping and batting in Test cricket, stating that Rizwan surpasses Sarfaraz in these aspects.
Butt acknowledged that Sarfaraz Ahmed is proficient against spin bowlers, handling them effectively. However, he noted that Sarfaraz is advancing in age, which might impact his performance. Therefore, Butt believes Rizwan is the stronger option for the starting XI in the first Test against Bangladesh. He shared his thoughts in a video on his YouTube channel.
“I think Rizwan is a better choice there’s no doubt about it. There’s a big difference in his (and Sarfaraz’s) keeping and batting. Yes, Sarfaraz Ahmed tackles spinners well and plays them well. But overall if you see, there’s an age difference as well, so I think Rizwan is a far better choice.”
Mohammad Rizwan has featured in 30 Test matches, accumulating 1,616 runs at an average of over 40, including 2 centuries and 5 half-centuries. In comparison, Sarfaraz Ahmed has played 54 Tests, scoring 3,031 runs at an average of about 37, with 4 centuries and 21 half-centuries.
For the upcoming first Test against Bangladesh, Pakistan has released Abrar Ahmed and uncapped top-order batter Kamran Ghulam from the squad. The decision comes as the team opts for an all-pace attack for the match in Rawalpindi.
Reports suggest that the pitch curators have been instructed to prepare a green pitch for the Rawalpindi Test. Since Bangladesh’s batters are more adept at handling spin, a grassy pitch would offer the home team an advantage by exploiting the pace attack more effectively.
Given the likely conditions favoring fast bowlers over spinners, Mohammad Rizwan is expected to be preferred over Sarfaraz Ahmed for the wicketkeeper-batter role.
