'Even I did it': Pakistan coach Misbah-ul-Haq downplays Sarfaraz Ahmed carrying drinks

Unexpected controversy during Manchester Test against England

Pakistan's Shan Masood hits a six during Day 2 of the first Test against England at Old Trafford on Thursday, August 6. Masood scored 156 runs off 319 balls. AP

England bowler Stuart Broad celebrates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Asad Shafiq. Getty

Pakistan's Shan Masood raises his bat to celebrate scoring a century. AP

England's Stuart Broad appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of Mohammed Rizwan . PA

Pakistan's Shan Masood. PA

England's James Anderson, second right, celebrates taking the wicket of Pakistan batsman Babar Azam. Reuters

Pakistan's Babar Azam trudges off after losing his wicket. AFP

Pakistan's Shan Masood after reaching his century. AFP

Pakistan's Shan Masood after being hit on the arm off the bowling of Stuart Broad. Reuters

England's Jofra Archer appeals successfully for the wicket of Yasir Shah. AFP

James Anderson, right, and Stuart Broad. Getty

Stuart Broad successfully appeals for the wicket of Shan Masood. Getty

England bolwer Chris Woakes, right, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan. AFP

Pakistan batsman Shan Masood plays a shot. Reuters

England fast bowler Jofra Archer celebrates taking the wicket of Pakistan's Mohammad Abbas. Reuters

Pakistan bowler Shaheen Afridi celebrates the wicket of England opener Rory Burns. Getty

England batsman Ben Stokes is bowled out by Pakistan's Mohammad Abbas. AP

Mohammad Abbas celebrates taking the wicket of Ben Stokes. Reuters

England captain Joe Root is caught by Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan off the bowling of Yasir Shah. Reuters

England batsman Ollie Pope. AFP

Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq refused to read too much into Sarfaraz Ahmed carrying drinks during the first Test against England in Manchester.

Ahmed, who has been benched for the series opener, has gone from leading the national team in all three formats to struggling to make it to the playing XI.

The wicketkeeper batsman now finds himself in the middle of an unexpected controversy after he was seen carrying drinks and equipment during the second day of the Old Trafford Test.

While some Pakistan supporters saw it as a sign of 'disrespect', others pointed to instances of star players like Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Ricky Ponting routinely carrying drinks.

Pakistan coach Misbah said he too carried drinks as 12th man, even when he was the captain of the side.

"Against Australia, when I was the captain, I sat out one game and went in with drinks as 12th man. There is no shame in it," Misbah said on Thursday.

"Sarfaraz is a great team man. He knows that when your benched players need to train one after the other, whoever is available at that moment has to help out. It's not a matter of disrespect."

The controversy took some of the focus away from a tremendous day on the field for the Pakistan team.

Opening batsman Shan Masood hit a majestic 156 to help the visitors post 326 before their fast bowlers struck with ferocity to leave England 92-4 at stumps.