KARACHI: First-choice Pakistan wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed has found himself entangled in a bizarre situation after being told that he is ineligible to represent his region — Karachi Whites — in the Super Eight stage of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship.

According to insiders, Sarfraz expressed his desire to play in the Super Eight Group-II’s fixtures but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s department looking after the affairs of domestic events has informed the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) that the star player can’t play since the region had not submitted his name in the mandatory list of 20 players before the championship started back in mid-October.

In normal circumstances, Sarfraz would have turned out for his employers, Pakistan Inter­national Airlines (PIA), whenever he was free from national duty. But PIA, as it turned out, failed to make the cut for the prestigious national championship when they unceremoniously exited during the qualifying round.

Because of national duty with the senior Pakistan team in all three formats, Sarfraz was unable to play for PIA in the qualifiers.

After the T20 series against England concluded, Sarfraz arrived home from the UAE at the start of this month.

Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq, ODI skipper Azhar Ali and senior batsman Younis Khan were all able to play for their respective departments upon their return from the UAE.

Misbah then left for Bangladesh after making a token appearance for SNGPL to play in the T20 league.

Misbah, Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Irfan have been granted permission by the PCB to commit themselves to the Bangladesh Premier League purely for personal gains and ignoring country’s premier first-class tournament, but the board is within its right to stop Sarfraz from taking part in the national competitions.

According to sources, the KCCA should have done their homework properly if they wanted Sarfraz playing for them.

“Even if a player previously on national duty is available to play in a domestic tournament, the team he wishes to represent should take permission from the PCB as per rules,” a senior cricket official told Dawn on condition of anonymity.

“It seems that the KCCA has not done their homework in this case. The only way Sarfraz could now play is if the national selectors intervene to resolve the matter.”

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2015