Sarfaraz Ahmed finds support from Indian fans after wearing Salwar Kameez for opening ceremony

Pakistan launched their World Cup campaign at Trent Bridge on Friday as they met a talented Windies side. The Men in Green have remained without a win in their last 11 matches and lost 10 of them. The side made some last-minute changes to its pace-bowling attack after a hammering from England which has raised eyebrows. And now, captain Sarfaraz Ahmed courted another controversy by choosing to wear a Salwar Kameez while going for a meeting with the British queen along with the other nine captains in the fray.

Sarfaraz went in Pakistan’s traditional dress while the other skippers were in the routine formals as they met Queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham Palace on the eve of the World Cup. While many said it was a break of protocol, Sarfaraz himself was unapologetic and found support from several fans, including from India.

Journalist Tarek Fatah taunts Sarfaraz; Indian fans react

Noted Pakistani-born Canadian journalist Tarek Fatah slammed Sarfaraz over his choice of attire at the formal occasion and said in a tweet: “Guess who came dressed in his pyjamas? None other than the #Pakistan captain.” In another tweet, Fatah even taunted the Pakistan wicket-keeper-batsman saying he was surprised that the latter did not turn up in his “Lungi-Banyan-Topi costume”.

Captains of #Cricket playing nations competing 4 the #CricketWorldCup had a photoshoot with the Queen. Guess who came dressed in his pyjamas? None other than the #Pakistan captain (back row, left). Take a look at him in the other pic. How does one country produce …? #CricketWC pic.twitter.com/hXxbxrfzlj

— Tarek Fatah (@TarekFatah) May 30, 2019

Every other captain, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, SouthAfrica, NewZealand, West Indies & Zimbabwe is smartly turned out in jacket & tie, but no, not the Pakistani. No sir, not him. I’m surprised he didn’t come in his Lungi-Banyan-Topi costume. How does …?

— Tarek Fatah (@TarekFatah) May 30, 2019

While the Pakistani fans were already backing Sarfaraz, he also found backing from supporters from this side of the Wagah who took on the veteran journalist over his tweets.

Here are some reactions that the Indian fans came up with against Tarek Fatah’s criticism

I am an Indian and I don’t see any wrong in Sarfaraj wearing kurta pyjama… Jacket and tie is good but what is wrong in wearing what is formal in his country.

— shashanko aditya (@shashankoaditya) May 30, 2019

It’s really sad that even in such a competitive world, we are judging based on clothes. Let me remind you sir, we Indians too have almost same culture and it’s good if @SarfarazA_54 wants to promote his culture. Also, GROW UP.

— Mohita ???????? (@itsmohitahere) May 30, 2019

See absolutely nothing wrong with that. He is dressed well, looks good, embraces his culture, is confident enough to wear what he is comfortable in. See no reason for making any concessions for the queen.

— Jai Hind (@mrjaihind) May 30, 2019

@TarekFatah sahab I don’t agree with you this time. We should proudly showcase our culture to this world. Our culture, dress and history tells who we are! These English looted our country earlier and now will tell us how to dress?

— Arpit Gupta (@arrpitguptaa) May 30, 2019

Sir, the queen is nothing but a symbol of imperialism. I find it disgusting that we Indians even think of her… With this much respect.
What Paki Captain did is his own will. Plz don’t ridicule a man for his ethnic wear, even if it is lungi.

— #BeLikeDhoni (@BeLikeDhoni) May 30, 2019

We must respect his values as well traditions

— Yatender Raj Yadav (@raj_yatender) May 31, 2019

I don’t see any harm in wearing his traditional clothes. Wish everybody else have wore their traditional.. Kudos to Pakistani captain.

One correction it’s Sri Lanka and not Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is not playing this WC edition

— Sumit Agrawal (@sumitagrawal83) May 31, 2019

Pakistan is such an amazing country… that’s why captain done something different then others… with his national dress ????…. he represent the people, culture there ..proud of him….so, you should change your mind sir. Proud to be Pakistani ????????????????????

— Atiq Rajpoot (@AtiqRajpoot8) May 31, 2019

Sarfaraz himself also spoke out on the matter saying it was the Pakistan Cricket Board that had instructed him to do things that would promote the country’s culture and that he was proud to wear his nation’s national dress while his counterparts were wearing suits.

Pakistan picked both Amir and Riaz for their games against the Windies besides Hasan Ali. Pakistan and the West Indies have met 10 times in the World Cup in all with the Caribbeans having a 7-3 lead. The last time Pakistan won against the West Indies was in the quarter-final in Dhaka in 2011.