Mohammad Rizwan extols Sarfaraz Ahmed after latter wins Player of the Series against New Zealand

Sarfaraz Ahmed made a sensational return to Test cricket after almost four years by winning the Player of the Series award against New Zealand in the recently concluded two-match Test series. He smashed his fourth Test century in the second and last match against New Zealand on Friday (January 6) to help Pakistan avoid a defeat on Day 5.

Sarfaraz replaced Mohammad Rizwan in the playing XI for the Test series against New Zealand and grabbed the opportunity with both hands. The former skipper is likely to don the wicketkeeping gloves in the upcoming Test series for Pakistan ahead of Rizwan. But Rizwan seems unfazed by Sarfaraz's recent success in the red-ball arena and congratulated his teammate with a post on his Twitter account.

"Brilliant knock by Saifi bhai again. This is what hard work and belief in Allah get you. Mujhe Saifi bhai k Man of the Series hone se aisi hi khushi jase ye mujhe mila ho. Balnk yaqeenan us se bhi zada. Khush rahain @SarfarazA_54 bhai" tweeted Rizwan.

Brilliant knock by Saifi bhai again. This is what hardwork and belief in Allah get you. Mujhe Saifi bhai k Man of the Series hone se aisi hi khushi jase ye mujhe mila ho. Balnk yaqeenan us se bhi zada. Khush rahain @SarfarazA_54 bhai.

— Muhammad Rizwan (@iMRizwanPak) January 6, 2023

Mohammad Rizwan to remain the first choice wicketkeeper in ODIs and T20Is: Shahid Afridi

Sarfaraz's return to Test cricket came at the expense of wicketkeeper batter Rizwan. Rizwan is enjoying a great run of form in white-ball cricket (especially in T20Is) for the last two years but has failed to make a similar impact in red-ball cricket. Rizwan scored only 141 runs in six innings against England in the recent home Test series and is likely to wait in the wings to find a regular place in the Test team.

But his place in white-ball teams remains intact courtesy of his string of amazing performances in 2022. Sarfaraz has not been included in the ODI squad against New Zealand for the three-match series starting January 9.

Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) new interim chief selector Shahid Afridi also cleared the air on Rizwan's position in T20I and ODI squad in a recent press conference. Afridi said that Rizwan remains the first-choice wicket-keeper for Pakistan in T20Is and ODIs.

"I’m very happy that Saifi (Sarfaraz Ahmed) has made a comeback and given such an amazing performance, but Mohammad Rizwan is available and he is our main wicket-keeper in both T20Is and ODIs. God forbid if Rizwan gets injured or if he’s tired, we’ll then consider other options. Let’s not mix someone’s Test performance with that of limited overs," Shahid Afridi said.

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