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Sarfaraz or Rizwan in Test matches: Bhogle gives his two cents

Wicketkeeping duo is part of the 29-member squad for the upcoming series against England

Sarfaraz or Rizwan in Test matches: Bhogle gives his two cents PHOTO: AFP

Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle believes former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed will have to earn his place back in the national side as Mohammad Rizwan has cemented the wicketkeeper slot, through his recent performances in Test cricket.

Sarfaraz is part of the 29-member squad announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the upcoming series against England. Pakistan is scheduled to take on the home side in three Tests and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), which will be played from August 5 to September 1.

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While answering a question regarding who should be Pakistan’s preferred wicketkeeper in the Test series, Bhogle said that he was impressed with Rizwan’s batting during the Men in Green’s tour to Australia last year.

"I always had a lot of time for Sarfaraz as a player. I thought he was a genuine batsman. But in recent times, Rizwan has come along and has got some really good scores in limited-overs cricket. He was part of that big partnership with Babar Azam in Australia, so he has shown that he can play. It is now up to Sarfaraz to come back into the side and displace the incumbent. The incumbent is now Rizwan, which is very clear," said Bhogle on ICC’s digital show Cricket Inside Out.

"Sarfaraz is a really good player and there is a fighter in him. I always thought that Pakistan cricket didn’t get as much out of Sarfaraz as I thought he was capable of," he added.

Sarfaraz was removed from captaincy and dropped from the national side after three-nil defeat to Sri Lanka in T20Is at home last year.