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Sarfaraz Ahmed plays down importance of past Pakistan vs. Australia whitewash

Sarfaraz Ahmed plays down importance of past Pakistan vs. Australia whitewash
© Reuters
A recent 5-0 defeat at Australia's hands is not playing on the Pakistan captain's mind.

Sarfaraz Ahmed insists both his Pakistan side and their coach Mickey Arthur are ready to put their experiences of Australia behind them and focus on their World Cup clash.

Pakistan were turned over 5-0 by the Australians during their last one-day international series in March, while Arthur was the first foreign coach to lead the Baggy Greens.

He was sacked less than two years into that assignment, just before the 2013 Ashes, but has worked hard to rebuild his reputation with Pakistan.

Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed is hoping to move on from prior setbacks.
Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed is hoping to move on from prior setbacks (David Davies/PA)

Sarfaraz was keen to leave both issues in the rearview mirror ahead of Wednesday's fixture at Taunton, keeping the match itself in focus.

"It's the past. We're not thinking about that," he said of the recent whitewash in the United Arab Emirates.

"Actually we are thinking about the game. Our morale is very high, momentum is very high. So hopefully we'll do very good against them tomorrow, inshallah."

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur is facing his old side at Taunton.
Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur is facing his old side at Taunton (Simon Cooper/PA)

As for Arthur's own prior association, the wicketkeeper added: "He's a wonderful coach, doing very well with us.

"Since the last three years he's working very hard with our players. For me, for Pakistan, he's a wonderful coach."

When Australia played India in their last outing, Sarfaraz's opposite number Virat Kohli made a point of asking his team's fans not boo David Warner and Steve Smith.

India captain Virat Kohli called for respect towards Australia's returning duo.
India captain Virat Kohli called for respect towards Australia's returning duo (Nigel French/PA)

Instead he encouraged supporters to applaud the pair, who recently returned from ball-tampering bans.

Asked if he would make a similar gesture, Sarfaraz suggested it was unlikely to be necessary.

"I don't think Pakistani people are doing (things) like that. Pakistan people love cricket and they love support and they love the players," he said.

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