ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Under-19 cricket team mentor Sarfaraz Ahmed has said that the behavior of Indian players during the match was inappropriate and against the spirit of the game.
In this regard, he was addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside Pakistan Under-19 team coach Shahid Anwar, captain Farhan Yousaf, and opener Sameer Minhas, Sarfaraz Ahmed stated that certain actions by Indian players on the field were unethical.
He focused on the fact that he instructed his team not to react and to maintain discipline and sportsmanship.
“I clearly told our players to let them do whatever they want. Our responsibility was to keep our conduct professional and respectful,” Sarfaraz said.
Moreover, the former Pakistan captain further said that Pakistan celebrated its victory with true sportsman spirit. “We celebrated our win in a dignified manner. What the other team chose to do was their personal action. Cricket should always be played with sportsmanship,” he added.
In this sense, Sarfaraz mentioned that the team’s success was the result of a complete process and credited the young players for their hard work and dedication.
He praised the coaching staff for their efforts, saying they worked tirelessly with the players. “These young cricketers will bring pride to the country in the future. They displayed excellent teamwork and strong performances, which led to this success,” he noted.
Sarfaraz informed the media that the team met with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, who announced a cash reward of Rs10 million for each player in recognition of their achievement.
Meanwhile, team captain Farhan Yousaf expressed gratitude for the warm welcome the team received upon returning home.
He thanked Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi for his continued support and encouragement. “Our main focus now is the Under-19 World Cup. We are committed to preparing well and performing to the best of our abilities,” Farhan said.
