The selection of Sarfaraz Ahmed in Pakistan’s playing XI for the first Test against Australia in Perth ahead of Mohammad Rizwan was a much-debated topic among Pakistan fans and their cricket fraternity.
However, Sarfaraz Ahmed didn’t have an ideal start to his series as he missed one big stumping opportunity of centurion David Warner off the bowling of part-time off-spinner Agha Salman.
David Warner was in great touch from the first over and had brought up his century in 125 balls, steering Australia to a dominating position in the first couple of sessions of the game.
After reaching his century, though, Warner gave Pakistan a couple of opportunities, which they shelled. Khurram Shahzad spilled a catch at mid-on before Sarfaraz Ahmed missed a stumping chance.
To a delivery outside the off-stump from Agha Salman, Warner skipped down the pitch to play at it, but the ball turned and bounced sharply, more than anyone, including Warner and Sarfaraz, had anticipated. The ball beat the outside edge of Warner’s bat.
Sarfaraz, however, too, didn’t expect the ball to bounce as much as it did and it hit him on his shoulder. The ball went to Babar Azam at first slip who took a shy at the stumps, trying to run Warner out, but the batter had come back in time by then. Warner and Travis Head even sneaked a bye run from the missed throw from Babar.
Fans trolled Sarfaraz Ahmed brutally on social media.
Watch: Sarfaraz Ahmed misses David Warner’s stumping; gets trolled on Twitter
A very eventful bye 🫣 #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/kbyL7gtaYg
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 14, 2023
Aussie skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first. This is Warner’s last career Test series.
Pakistan (Playing XI): Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood(c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed(w), Agha Salman, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Aamer Jamal, Khurram Shahzad
Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood