Pakistan Cricket Board have sacked Sarfaraz Ahmed from captaincy for all formats of the game. After poor runs show by him as a leader and batsman in recently concluded world cup 2019 and Sri Lanka t20 series, PCB’s decided to change their skipper for upcoming cricket series against Australia and future tours.
Azhar Ali is appointed new skipper of the Pakistan test cricket team meanwhile Babar Azam has been handed over T20I captaincy. Babar to lead Men in Green till t20 world cup 2020. PCB Chairman Mani said that it wasn’t an easy decision to drop Sarfaraz from the team but his below par performance as a layer forced used to take the decision in team’s benefit.
“It has been a difficult decision to drop Sarfaraz Ahmed, who has performed well as a player and a leader. But his loss in form and confidence is visible and, in the best interest of the team, it has been decided to leave him out,” PCB chairman Ehsan Mani said.
Pakistan to play three twenty20 internationals on Australia tour starting from 3rd November while two tests are scheduled to take place in the time frame.
Babar Azam will now have great challenge to prove him as a leader as uphill task against him in t20 cricket specially. Three T20Is in Australia and then in July 2020, there will three twenty20s in England as well ahead of Asia Cup and ICC T20 world cup.
“To be named captain of the No.1 ranked side is the biggest thing that’s happened to my career to date. I’m ready for this challenge & also willing to learn more. I feel it’s been a natural progression for me & I’m delighted PCB’s put faith in my capabilities,” Babar said after appointing Pak skipper.
There is no ODI series scheduled for Pakistan until July 2020. It will be interesting to see what Pakistan board will think for the One-Day internationals leadership as next ICC world cup to be played in 2023.