Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has opened up about getting dropped from the Test side against New Zealand saying that he wanted the “best performer” to represent Pakistan.

The two-match series ended in a draw here at the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi, which also saw the return of Sarfaraz Ahmed after a lengthy absence.

“You can ask the head coach Saqlain Mushtaq that what I told him after the end of the England Test series,” Rizwan told Cricket Pakistan. “I was happy to see Sarfaraz perform because that is what I wanted. I personally thought that since I wasn’t able to perform, I didn’t deserve to play in the next series.”

The batter was struggling for form with the bat as he scored just 141 runs in his last six Test innings at an average of 23.50.

He went on to reveal that he volunteered himself to be on the bench during the New Zealand Test series. “I went to the coach and captain myself and told them that you can drop me because I haven’t performed. Two players are witnesses of this conversation.”

Since Sarfaraz was in red-hot form in domestic cricket, the former captain seized the opportunity with both hands as he went on to score 335 runs at an average of 83.75 to bag the player of the series award for his match-saving knocks.

“Sarfaraz has been performing in domestic and deserved his chance,” he said. “I was happy to see him [Sarfaraz] perform because I asked for his inclusion. Whoever performs best for Pakistan deserves to play,” he concluded.