mobanmarketTaunton: Sarfaraz Ahmad insists Pakistan fans won’t boo shamed Australia star Steven Smith during their World Cup match in Taunton on Wednesday.
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Pakistan fans are expected to make up a large chunk of the crowd in the west country and there are fears they might follow the example of the India supporters who jeered Smith at the Oval on Sunday.
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But Pakistan captain Sarfaraz says his compatriots will not resort to such tactics.
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“I don’t think Pakistani people will do that,” Sarfaraz told reporters on Tuesday.
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“Pakistani people love cricket, they love to support and they love the players.”
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A large number of Indian fans chanted “cheater” at Smith, who back in action following a year-long ball for his role in the ball-tampering scandal that rocked Australia during their tour of South Africa in 2018.
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India captain Virat Kohli gestured in an effort to quiet the crowd and later apologised to Smith.
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Meanwhile, Sarfaraz vowed Pakistan will put their 5-0 whitewash by Australia in March behind them.
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“I think that thing is gone, it’s past,” said Sarfaraz of the series in which he and six other top players were rested by Pakistan.
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“We’re not thinking about that. Actually we are thinking about tomorrow’s game. So our morale is very high and we will do our best.”
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Sarfaraz refused to be drawn on whether Australia will be troubled by the absence of all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, who has been ruled out with a side strain.
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Australia have summoned another all-rounder Mitchell Marsh as potential cover for Stoinis.
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“I am not thinking about them, what they are thinking at the moment. I am thinking about my team, so we’ll make good planning against them,” Sarfaraz said.
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Pakistan were left frustrated after their match against Sri Lanka was washed out at Bristol on Friday, leaving them to share a point.
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Before that, Pakistan had brought their campaign back on track with a surprise 14-run win against tournament favourites England, after a poor defeat at the hands of the West Indies.
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With bad weather forecast for Taunton on Wednesday, Sarfaraz said his team are ready for a shortened match.
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“Firstly, we can’t control the weather. It’s same for both teams. But if the match is short, definitely the planning is a change one,” he said.