'All I wanted was to play international cricket in front of my father': Sarfaraz

All that Sarfaraz Khan wanted since the beginning of his cricket journey as a sixyearold was to become an international player in front of his fatherTwo decades later that dream came true on Thursday for the Mumbaikar when he was handed his Test cap ahead of the IND vs ENG 3rd Test by no less than former captain Anil Kumble with his father Naushad watching tearfullyAs was expected he proved his worth with a half century which could have been a bigger knock if not for the run out at nonstrikers end following a mix up with unbeaten centurion Ravindra JadejaThe 26yearold was however too happy to have any complaintsComing to the ground for the first time and getting the cap in front of my father I was sixyearsold when he started my cricket training It was my dream to play for the Indian team in front of him Sarfaraz told the media here after the end of the IND vs ENG 3rd Test in which India were 3265Indias Test cap No 311 Sarfaraz gave a fine account of himself with a rapid 62Also ReadFathers tears of joy after Sarfaraz Khans dream Test debut WatchNaushad was overwhelmed on Thursday He had not even planned to visit Rajkot to watch his son but landed in the city on the eve of the gameTears hugs and joy swept through the Khan family with Sarfarazs wife present beside his fatherI was padded up for almost four hours in the dressing room I kept thinking that I have kept so much patience in life and there is no harm in keeping some moreAfter I went in I was nervous for the first few balls but I have practiced and worked so hard that everything went well Sarfaraz said detailing his Test experienceSarfaraz said runs and performances did not matter to him as much as playing for India with his father there to watch himIt was my fathers dream to play for India but unfortunately it couldnt happen due to some reasons there wasnt much support from home then He worked very hard on me and is now doing the same with my brother It was the proudest moment of my life he saidRuns and performances were not on my mind as much as I was happy playing for India in front of my father he addedHe was not ready to come to Rajkot but some people insisted that he goes Obviously he had to come over since he worked so hard only for this dayiquestHe was very emotional as I took the cap in front of him and so was my wife I felt as if some pressure was off my shoulders given the hard work he had put in on me and I did not waste it he stated emotions still raw after a whirlwind daySarfaraz banished initial nervousness with powerful sweeps and lofted hits down the ground but termed his dismissal the run out at the nonstrikers end a case of miscommunicationIt is a part of the game Miscommunication happens in cricket Sometimes runout happens sometimes you get the runs he saidI spoke to Jadeja at lunch time and requested him to talk to me while playing I like talking while playing It was my first timeI told him that when I go out to bat keep talking to me while playing He kept talking and supported me a lot while I was batting Sarfaraz addedIt is not easy for any player to keep trudging through years of domestic cricket piling up runs year after year and not get a chance in the national sideWhen he finally got it Sarfaraz said the taste of international cricket was almost similar to domestic but with a few obvious differencesInitially I was feeling awkward since it has been a long time in anticipation But later on I felt that I have done all of this once I was in my zone I did not find it difficult he saidDifference is there you do not have crowds in firstclass cricket and you do not come across national players much he addedWith agency inputs