Sarfraz satisfied with Pakistan's performance despite Leeds defeat

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed has asserted that he is proud of his young team even after a humiliating innings and 55-run defeat at Headingley.

That overwhelming loss, completed in three days on Sunday, meant the two-match campaign ended all square at 1-1 following what Sarfraz said was Pakistan's 'perfect' nine-wicket victory in the first Test at Lord's.

Defeat left Pakistan still looking for their first Test series success in England since 1996, when fast-bowling greats Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were in the side.

Speaking to the media at Leeds, Sarfraz said, “When we came here people thought we will not win one game but the way we played at Lord's everything was perfect, our fast bowling was perfect, our batting and fielding were perfect. It's disappointing that we had a chance to win the series but unfortunately we didn´t play well here”.

Overall there were still plenty of plus-points for Pakistan, not least the bowling of seamer Mohammad Abbas who took a match-winning eight for 64 at Lord's. "I am proud of my young team, the way Abbas is bowling, Shadab is doing well, Faheem Ashraf did well. So I'm really disappointed that we did not win [at Headingley] but 1-1 is good for us," said wicket-keeper Sarfraz.

Experienced opening batsman Azhar Ali averaged just 16.75 during the series while Sarfraz averaged 10.33 -- well below his career Test mark of 37.78. "Azhar is our main batsman, it's correct he is not in good nick but he scored a good fifty at Lord's," said Sarfraz.

As for his own batting, Sarfraz added, "I am not satisfied with my batting in the series. I committed mistakes and played a few bad shots."

"The more you play Test cricket, you get to mature as Test player. Now we have five Tests in the UAE [two against Australia and three against New Zealand], then we have three in South Africa and that will help us mature as a Test team," he added.