After receiving the backlash over hurling invective over Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed and the national team, the former chief selector of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and ex-captain Aamer Sohail on Friday has cleared the air by stating his comments were blown out of proportion after video clip were doing rounds on the social media platform.
The former left-hander reiterated that he did not accuse the national team of any match-fixing, but was angered by Sarfraz’s decision for not recognising the services of batting stalwart Javed Miandad.
“The other thing I said was that the facilitators of the win cannot be named,” Sohail was quoted as saying by Dawn.
However, there were no reports of Sarfraz coming hard at Miandad recently, but Sohail expressed dissatisfaction while stating his comment was taken into a bad taste, whereas, he did not say anything related to match fixing before admitted he said ‘external force’ cannot be revealed.
“I said nothing about match-fixing or any other foul play, my statement was misunderstood,” Sohail maintained.
In a bid to pacify the cricket fanatics and clarify the air, Sohail was quick to respond while revealing he was upset with Sarfraz Ahmed’s when he learned through his sources that Pakistan skipper deliberately snubbed to dedicate team’s win to Javed Miandad after three-wicket win over Sri Lanka at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.
Moreover, Sohail revealed the reason for not naming Miandad during the post-match ceremony was because of former’s criticism of Pakistan team.
“My comments were made after I heard reports of Sarfaraz’s refusal to dedicate his performance against Sri Lanka to Miandad and him saying that Miandad criticises the team too much,” remarked Sohail.
Interestingly, when 50-year-old Sohail criticised Sarfraz Ahmed and Pakistan team while warning them to mind their own business, Miandad was the part of the discussion which was hosted by Samaa Tv anchor before the start of England-Pakistan semi-final.
It becomes pertinent to note, Javed Miandad was celebrating his 60th birthday when Pakistan was facing Sri Lanka in the virtual quarter-final on June 12.
After being dropped twice on the bowling of Lasith Malinga, Sarfraz scored unbeaten 61 to register 75-run partnership for the eighth wicket alongside left-handed batsman Mohammad Amir — to earn the maiden spot in the final of ‘mini’ World Cup.
Earlier, in the short-clip Sohail also stated the side will be appreciated for doing good in the field and equally criticised for doing bad, while adding the team has nothing to boast about except the prayers back home which were accepted by the Almighty.