Former captain of Pakistani cricket team Sarfaraz Ahmed was spotted providing water bottles to the fellow cricketers during the test in Manchester. Netizens reacted to it and criticized the head coach for making Sarfaraz a water boy.

The hashtag #sarfarazAhmed is trending on Twitter as users show support for the former captain. Some Twitter users also appreciated him for his humble teamwork.

However, head coach Misbah-ul-Haq has responded to the criticism and said that Pakistani cricketers should not be ashamed of working as water boys.

“Such criticism can only be made in a country like Pakistan,” “I remember serving as a 12th man while being captain in a match against Australia,” he recalled.

“I feel any professional player should not feel ashamed by it. Sarfaraz is a wonderful player and a human being and is aware that cricket is a team sport.”

He also said that any available player has to assist the team when others are training. “There is no disrespect in this. In fact, kudos to him and others that they have no problem with it.”

Here is how netizens reacted:

I never thought that Sarfaraz Ahmed would come to serve water as 12th man. Its a disrespect to Ex Captain, who led the team in Champion Trophy in England and won for his country. Feeling really sad for this.#ENGvPAK #testcricket #OldTrafford pic.twitter.com/GbnHIvXfI5

— Raja Ifi (@Ifiraja) August 6, 2020

This is not a big deal, sometimes you have to do it if you are at rest. As a player, you are still working for your team. You are still our captain #SarfarazAhmed bhai👍 pic.twitter.com/yG5TNcZ94S

— SindhKaBeta (@sindh_beta) August 7, 2020

Misbah's reply at the press conference "even I carried the drinks for the team in Australia" #SarfarazAhmed #PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/NS6JosAldS

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— Balaj Khan (@Cancerian94) August 7, 2020

U19 WC Winner
CT 2017 Winner
Made Pakistan No.1 side of T20
11 T20 Series Victory in a row as a captain but some people are not happy with team management sending #SarfarazAhmed as water boy but i believe representing your country in any form is an honor he is doing his job pic.twitter.com/cAGW06PAan

— HamzaKaleem23 (@HKaleem23) August 7, 2020

No body is #senior or #junior in #professional world and there is no disrespect in doing your assigned work. Respect is not hurt by bringing water, we must not associate such things with being a junior. #ENGvPAK #SarfarazAhmed
Ricky Ponting, Kohli and Dhoni also did this. pic.twitter.com/YKgOL8jIhE

— Zeeshan Ali Khan (@IamKHANGE) August 7, 2020

#SarfarazAhmed
He is one of the best wicket keeper batsman around the world instead of giving him a chance to perform in this series you just make him able to carry drinks 💔 pic.twitter.com/IBIdcuO58I

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— M. Ahmed. Ali (@MAhmedA89835039) August 7, 2020

Sarfaraz Ahmed is our former and debatably the most successful captain in recent times. He is an asset who has given us more than any other Pakistani captain. Using him as a water boy is his insult. Any other young player should have done this instead of Sarfaraz.#PAKvsENG pic.twitter.com/PLalAVri2j

— محمد یاور (@sheikhyawar0) August 6, 2020

#SarfarazAhmed His level of simplicity ❤️
More power to you man
#SarfarazAhmed pic.twitter.com/sEMrUSfG3Y

— Naeem Bio (@BioNaeem) August 7, 2020