ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's banned captain Sarfraz Ahmed hopes his four-match suspension will not deny him the opportunity to lead his country in the World Cup in England later this year.
"The decision is with the Pakistan Cricket Board, but I have got positive vibes about it that I will be the captain for the World Cup," Sarfraz told reporters in the southern port city of Karachi on Sunday.
The PCB has a policy of naming the captain on a series to series basis.
Sarfraz witnessed the third and final Twenty20 match between Pakistan's women and the West Indies as the home team won it by 12 runs, but lost the series 2-1.
Sarfraz has successfully led the world's No. 1-ranked Pakistan team in the Twenty20 format since being named captain in 2016. He also captained Pakistan to a historic victory in the Champions Trophy in England in 2017 when Pakistan was ranked at No. 8 in the eight-team event.
Last month, the ICC suspended Sarfraz for four matches under its anti-racism code for a an on-field taunt aimed at South Africa allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo.
He returned home and the PCB handed over the captaincy to Shoaib Malik for the two one-day internationals and three-match Twenty20 series.
In the incident, Sarfraz, the Pakistan wicketkeeper, was heard on a stump microphone saying in Urdu: "Hey black man, where is your mother sitting today? What (prayer) have you got her to say for you today?"
He made a public apology and also apologized in person to Phehlukwayo ahead of the third ODI last week. But the ICC still found him guilty and banned him for the last two one-day games and the first two T20s.
PCB chairman Ehsan Mani reportedly criticized the ICC for handing Sarfraz the punishment after the cricket board and the Pakistan captain "had cleared the air."
Sarfraz said the word "black" was played up in the media while Phehlukwayo had reservations about the words used by the Pakistan captain about his mother.
"Only one word was played up in the media," Sarfraz said.
"He (Phehlukwayo) told me that I used wrong words about his mother, but I told him that being a Muslim we believe that whatever success we achieve it's because of our mother's prayers and that I did not use the words in the wrong context."
Sarfraz said that even the manager of the South Africa team, who was present at the time, endorsed his explanation to Phehlukwayo.
Sarfraz has been quite vocal behind the stumps, which sometimes attracts criticism.
But Sarfraz said he won't change.
"My nature won't ever change and all those who have covered me since I played at club level know it very well," Sarfraz said. "I do the captaincy like that, I talk a lot behind the stumps."
Pakistan has won two major ICC tournaments — the 1992 World Cup and the 2017 Champions Trophy — during Muslims' fasting month of Ramadan.
This year too, the World Cup will start during Ramadan and Sarfraz said it could bode well for Pakistan again.
"Ramadan is always good for the Pakistan team whether it's 1992 World Cup or the Champions Trophy," he said with a smile.
Sarfraz hopes ban won't stop from him leading Pakistan in World Cup
Sarfraz hopes ban won't stop from him leading Pakistan in World Cup
- He was banned for four matches for his behind-the-stump remarks for S. African cricketer
- PCB chairman criticized ICC for penalizing Sarfraz after he "had cleared the air."
Nabucco Al-Maury has second crack at glory on Saudi Cup weekend
- French challenger aiming to go one better in the $1.5m Group 1 Al-Mneefah Cup
RIYADH: French raider Nabucco Al-Maury (FR) returns to Riyadh on Feb. 13 hoping to go one better than last year when finishing runner-up to RB Kingmaker (US) in the $1.5-million group one Al-Mneefah Cup, presented by the Ministry of Culture.
Trained in 2025 by Hamad Al-Jehani, the 6-year-old son of Assy (QA) joined the yard of Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte in Mont-de-Marsan last spring where he has continued to thrive.
Although he has not managed to reach the top step of the podium in the last couple of seasons, he has remained consistent. His last run in the group one The President Cup in December in Abu Dhabi, behind local champion HM Alchahine (FR), was particularly eye-catching.
“That was a really good performance,” said the French handler, who will also saddle the mare Lacaro du Croate (FR) in the 2,100-meter turf race.
“I didn’t train Nabucco Al-Maury when he came to Riyadh last year. He arrived in my yard in the spring, and we have progressively worked our way to the top.
“He has improved with each of his runs. His second place behind HM Alchahine was very good. We beat RB Kingmaker quite easily, which we hadn’t done before, so that was a great result.”
The Helal & Tahnon Alalawi-trained RB Kingmaker (US) will again feature amongst his opponents in the Al-Mneefah Cup. “I know that he is in it,” said the trainer.
“We beat him quite easily in Abu Dhabi, but he probably needed that race and we know he runs well in Riyadh.
“Maybe he will transform himself there. And I know that there is the very good mare of Alban de Mieulle, RB Mary Lylah (US), in the field, so we shall see.”
The only French-based trainer with runners in the two events for Purebred Arabians this year, he is also looking forward to saddling the 5-year-old mare Lacaro du Croate in the Al-Mneefah.
A winner of the group one Criterium des Pouliches – Wathba Stallions at La Teste in France last July, she has just made her seasonal reappearance in a conditions race at Pau where she finished second to dual Triple Crown champion Al-Ghadeer (FR).
“It was a good performance,” added the trainer. “She only saw Al-Ghadeer’s behind but that was to be expected. He did his job, she did hers. In fact, she did what we asked her to do.”
With exceptionally heavy rainfalls continuing across the southwest of France, their trainer decided last week to take both contenders to the Pau racecourse for a final blow-out.
“It’s just terrible how much rain we have had. Last weekend I was supposed to go away but then decided, no, I’m taking my horsebox and I’m going to drive to Pau to work them properly.
“Luckily, the jockeys were great and went along with my plan. They enjoyed a good gallop and are in good order.”
While Nabucco Al-Maury and Lacaro du Croate had to brave the difficult weather in France, Moshrif (FR), who is Thomas-Demeaulte’s runner in the $2 million group one Obaiya Arabian Classic, presented by Al-Hammadi Hospitals, has enjoyed the ambient temperatures in Riyadh.
“He has been in Riyadh for a while,” said the trainer. “We took him there for the prep race on Jan. 9, where he finished fifth. I hadn’t worked him a lot since he won his race in Morocco last year, so he wasn’t 100 percent fit yet, but it was still a good performance.”
The 8-year-old is a regular in Riyadh where he was the runner-up to the great Tilal Al-Khalediah in the 2024 running of the Al-Mneefah Cup, but this time he will tackle top-class opposition on dirt.
“He proved when ran in January that he can handle the dirt. He has been in Riyadh since that last run and I went out there 10 days ago to see how he was. He is in good form and I was very happy with him,” added Thomas-Demeaulte.
