Karachi: Suspended Pakistani cricketer Sarfaraz Ahmed is confident about returning as the captain of the team after serving the ban which was imposed on him on account of racial remarks he made against South African pacer Andile Phehlukwayo.
The 31-year-old, however, added that a lot of it would depend on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“It is up to the PCB but I’m confident that I will stay as the team’s captain Insha’Allah,” Geo tv quoted Sarfaraz, as saying.
Sarfaraz was handed over a four-match suspension by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for hurling racial remarks at Phehlukwayo during the second ODI of the recently-concluded five-match series between the two teams.
The wicket-keeper batsman was heard on the stump mic saying, “Hey black [man], where is your mother sitting? What prayer did you get her to say for you today?” (Abay kaalay, teri ammi aaj kahan baitheen hain? Kya parhwa ke aya hai aaj tu?).
Talking about the controversy, Sarfaraz clarified that Phehlukwayo had no issues with his remarks but was concerned about what he had said about his mother.
“When I met him to say sorry, he told me that he felt that something wrong was said about his mother,” Sarfraz said.
“Then I explained to him what ‘Maa Ki Dua’ means in our culture. I didn’t mean any racial attack, and I explained that to Phehlukwayo as well. He accepted my apology and clarification when I explained it to him,” he added.
Sarfaraz’s four-match suspension will come to an end after Pakistan’s second T20I against South Africa which is slated to be held, later today.
[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]